Riyadh, Jul 7: The general emergency plan for 2021 was approved by Saudi Arabia's interior minister.

The chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif, signed the plan on Tuesday for the annual pilgrimage, which for the second year is limited to residents of the Kingdom.

This year, as precautionary measures, Saudi Arabia is limiting the event to 60,000 pilgrims. It was about 2 million pilgrims before the pandemic.

The Hajj operations will be implemented by a number of government agencies.

Director-General of the Civil Defense, Lt Gen Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Amro said that the authority is also set for the Hajj season, in line with the general emergency plan, stated a press release issued by the Saudi Press Agency.

"The plan was prepared to achieve the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to provide the highest levels of security and safety for pilgrims, and is being implemented with their follow-up and support in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites,” Lt General Al-Amro said.

He added that inspection tours have been intensified in all facilities and sites that have been prepared for the pilgrims’ accommodations and included all preventive and executive measures and providing the necessary services to maintain public safety.