The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque continues to implement extensive measures aimed at ensuring comfort, organization, and spiritual tranquility for the millions of worshippers who visit Islam’s two holiest sites every year.
Among the many services provided to pilgrims and visitors is the large-scale provision and management of prayer carpets within both the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. These carpets play an essential role in maintaining a comfortable and well-organized environment for worshippers performing prayers and other acts of devotion.
As part of these arrangements, nearly 58,000 prayer carpets have been allocated across the courtyards, prayer halls, and surrounding areas of the two holy mosques. The carpets are carefully distributed in a way that supports both the comfort of worshippers and the efficient movement of crowds, especially during peak seasons when the number of visitors rises dramatically.
A significant portion of these carpets—approximately *39,400—are installed within the Grand Mosque in Makkah. They are placed throughout the mosque’s internal prayer areas, open courtyards, and newly developed sections that form part of the *Third Saudi Expansion. This expansion significantly increased the mosque’s capacity to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims who arrive every year from across the world.
The thoughtful placement of carpets is not merely a matter of providing comfort. It is also a strategic measure used to help regulate the flow of worshippers and maintain orderly prayer rows during congregational prayers. With millions of visitors gathering in the holy mosques throughout the year, especially during Umrah seasons, organized spatial arrangements become critical to ensuring that worshippers can move safely and easily while maintaining the sanctity and serenity of the prayer environment.
During particularly busy periods such as the holy month of Ramadan, these arrangements become even more vital. Ramadan brings an extraordinary influx of pilgrims from different countries who travel to Makkah and Madinah to perform Umrah and offer prayers in the sacred mosques. In response to this surge, operational teams intensify their efforts to maintain and reorganize the carpet distribution in order to accommodate the increasing crowds.
Specialized field teams are assigned to continuously monitor the condition and readiness of the carpets. Their duties include inspecting the carpets regularly, ensuring they remain clean and well maintained, and replacing them whenever necessary. If a carpet becomes worn out due to heavy usage, it is quickly removed and substituted with a new one to maintain high standards of cleanliness and comfort.
In addition to routine inspections, the teams also carry out frequent cleaning and sanitization procedures. Advanced cleaning equipment and approved disinfectants are used to remove dust and maintain hygienic conditions across the prayer areas. Because thousands of worshippers use these carpets every day, maintaining cleanliness is considered an essential aspect of preserving a healthy environment for all visitors.
Another important responsibility of the field teams is the dynamic redistribution of carpets according to crowd patterns. At different times of the day—particularly during the five daily prayers and Friday congregations—the density of worshippers can vary significantly in different parts of the mosques. By adjusting the placement of carpets in response to these changes, the teams help ensure that prayer rows remain organized and that worshippers can find adequate space to perform their prayers comfortably.
The carpets used within the holy mosques are not ordinary carpets. They are manufactured according to strict quality specifications designed to withstand extremely intensive use. Because millions of worshippers perform prayers on them throughout the year, durability is a key requirement in their design and production.
In addition to durability, the carpets are also crafted with a strong emphasis on comfort and functionality. Their texture, thickness, and material composition are carefully selected to provide a soft and supportive surface for worshippers during prayer. The design also allows them to maintain their form and quality even after prolonged usage.
Another essential factor considered in the manufacturing process is ease of cleaning and maintenance. Since cleanliness is a fundamental requirement within the holy mosques, the carpets are designed in such a way that they can be easily cleaned, sanitized, and maintained without compromising their quality or appearance.
Safety considerations are also incorporated into their design. The carpets are produced with materials and textures that reduce the risk of slipping, ensuring that worshippers of all ages—from children to elderly pilgrims—can move across the prayer areas safely. Maintaining such safety standards is particularly important given the enormous crowds that gather at the two holy mosques every year.
These carpet arrangements are only one part of a much broader system of services that the authority provides to facilitate the experience of pilgrims and visitors. The overall objective of these services is to create a peaceful, organized, and spiritually uplifting environment where worshippers can perform their religious duties with ease and tranquility.
Every year, millions of Muslims travel from different regions of the world to visit the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Managing such massive gatherings requires meticulous planning and continuous operational efforts. From cleaning services and crowd management to facility maintenance and logistical coordination, the authorities oversee a complex network of activities to ensure the smooth functioning of the holy mosques.
Within this system, the careful arrangement and maintenance of prayer carpets may appear to be a small detail, yet it plays a significant role in enhancing the overall worship experience. Clean, well-organized prayer spaces help maintain orderly rows, reduce congestion, and create an atmosphere conducive to devotion and reflection.
Ultimately, these meticulous efforts reflect the deep commitment of Saudi leadership to the care and service of the Two Holy Mosques. By continuously improving facilities and services for pilgrims, the authorities aim to ensure that every visitor can experience the sacred environment of the holy sites with comfort, dignity, and spiritual fulfillment.
Through such comprehensive measures—including the provision and management of tens of thousands of prayer carpets—the holy mosques remain prepared to welcome the ever-growing number of worshippers who arrive each year seeking spiritual connection and peace.