Every Ramadan, millions of Muslims from across the world arrive at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to pray, perform Umrah, and seek closeness to Allah. What most worshippers never fully see is the quiet army of dedicated volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes, and this year, their combined effort has crossed a remarkable 45,000 hours of service.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques confirmed that nearly 32 million worshippers and Umrah performers visited the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during the first ten days of Ramadan 1447 AH alone. Thousands of workers, volunteers, and security personnel worked around the clock to ensure smooth entry and exit, clean facilities, and accessible guidance for every single worshipper.
The volunteers serving pilgrims this Ramadan come from every walk of life, doctors, university professors, teachers, students, and everyday citizens, all united by one purpose: to serve the guests of God. They welcome pilgrims at entrances, distribute Zamzam water, guide lost visitors, provide first aid, and help organise prayer rows inside the mosque with patience and warmth.
Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah opened 21 dedicated volunteer opportunities this Ramadan, covering simultaneous interpretation, meal distribution for fasting observers, medical services, counselling, and pilgrim welcoming. The General Directorate of Education in the Makkah region went further, offering more than 200 volunteering opportunities across 13 different service fields.
Saudi authorities also introduced new technology this Ramadan to support volunteers. Mosque entrances now display digital indicators guiding worshippers to available prayer areas, with green signals for open access and red for sections that have reached full capacity.
Volunteer team leaders described the experience as one of the greatest honours of their lives, saying that serving the guests of God deepens the sense of belonging to society and nurtures the very best values of generosity, tolerance, and human compassion.
