Around $24 million has been spent on the expansion and revamp of the Jeddah-Makkah highway in preparation for the Hajj season in September 2016.

The Jeddah-Makkah Expressway has been expanded to five lanes in each direction. Several new bridges have been built across the valleys with a number of overhead signboards installed across the 100km-long expressway, according to Saudi Gazette.

It has also been divided by a Jersey barrier to enhance road safety, replacing an iron fence.

The Ministry of Transport, who completed the work in the Holy month of Ramadan, spent a total of $24 million in preparation for safer roads for the pilgrims, as part of Saudi’s Vision 2030 reform plan.

Last September, approximately 2 million people from more than 180 countries took part in the five-day pilgrimage.

Mina Camp of Pilgrims

The public investment fund of Saudi’s Ministry of Finance has upgraded 30% of the old air conditioners in the camps at Mina, the world’s largest tent city.

The new air conditioning units are suitable for hot temperatures, as the Kingdom prepares to host pilgrims for Haj season, which lasts from September 9 to September 11, Arab News reported.

Last year, the Hajj and Umrah Research Institute tested the conditions of 260 air-conditioning devices provided by five different companies to select the suitable ones for the tents at Mina camps near Makkah.

According to secretary-general of the Coordination Council for Domestic Hajj Service Firms Jamal Shaqdar, the air conditioners will be included in 30% of the camps, while the remaining 70% of pilgrims might experience hot temperatures in the tents.

The council, he said, is holding a workshop in the next few days in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in hopes to find a temporary solution to reduce heat in the tents of the remaining 70%.

Last September, approximately 2 million people from more than 180 countries took part in the five-day pilgrimage.