His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh, issued an urgent directive to all branches of the Ministry in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stipulating the need to immediately begin completing all the necessary preparations and arrangements to prepare the Eid prayer grounds and mosques to receive worshippers to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer for the year 1447 AH.

The ministerial directive emphasized the paramount importance of maintaining mosques and ensuring their readiness in terms of cleanliness, upkeep, and operation, so that worshippers can perform their rituals in a spiritually uplifting and tranquil atmosphere. The directive also specified that Eid prayers in all approved prayer areas and mosques should be held 15 minutes after sunrise, according to the Umm al-Qura calendar, to ensure uniformity of timing and facilitate matters for citizens and residents.

In the context of spatial organization, the circular stipulated the adoption of holding prayers in open Eid prayer grounds, following the Sunnah of the Prophet, in addition to mosques in all regions, with the exception of mosques adjacent to prayer grounds or those not frequented by worshippers in some villages and centers that are satisfied with the main Eid prayer ground, in order to ensure that efforts are not scattered and to focus the services provided to the guests of God.

The directive addressed an important jurisprudential and organizational issue related to the coincidence of Eid with Friday, as His Excellency the Minister stressed to the preachers the necessity of holding the Friday prayer at its usual time and not being satisfied with the Eid prayer, for those who wish to attend the Friday prayer or who did not witness the Eid prayer, which reflects the Ministry’s keenness to apply the Sharia rulings accurately and to take into account the circumstances of all segments of society.

This early initiative by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs comes as part of its comprehensive strategy for the upkeep of mosques and prayer areas, a cornerstone of the Kingdom's mission to serve Islam and Muslims. Caring for Eid prayer areas extends beyond simply providing carpets and cleaning; it also includes inspecting sound and air conditioning systems and ensuring safety measures are in place to accommodate the large numbers of worshippers who flock to the mosques for this joyous occasion.

This directive reflects the great attention the wise leadership – may God support them – pays to mosques and their physical and spiritual upkeep, as the state dedicates all its resources to serving religious rites and facilitating their performance. Eid prayer is considered a manifestation of unity and cohesion among members of society, and therefore, proper preparation for it contributes to showcasing this ritual in a manner befitting the Kingdom's status as the heart of the Islamic world.

The National Center for Environmental Compliance announced very reassuring results regarding air quality indicators in the Eastern Province during the past twenty-four hours, as the data showed that the "healthy" green zone dominated the vast majority of monitoring stations, promising clean air in conjunction with the preparations of citizens and residents to welcome the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Results of automated monitoring and station distribution

Reports issued by the center, which operates a sophisticated network of 29 strategically located monitoring stations across the cities and villages of the Eastern Province along the Arabian Gulf coast, indicate that the overall air quality is exceptionally clean. Specifically, most stations recorded readings within the safe green zone, while only nine stations recorded relatively high readings, falling into the moderate yellow zone.

The areas that registered in the yellow zone included Dammam, Al-Ahsa, Hafr Al-Batin, Jubail, Salwa border crossing, Qatif, Al-Sarar, Khafji, and Al-Nairiyah. The center attributed this slight and limited increase primarily to inhalable particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, a natural phenomenon often associated with wind and dust movement in desert regions.

Global standards and measurement mechanism

The National Center for Environmental Compliance uses the latest global technologies to monitor and measure five key pollutants that determine air quality: ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and coarse particulate matter (PM10). These standards are fundamental to ensuring environmental safety and human health. Air quality is classified using a color-coded system that ranges from green (healthy) through yellow (moderate) and orange (harmful to sensitive groups), to red, purple, and brown in critical cases.

The importance and impact of environmental monitoring

This announcement is particularly significant in the context of Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to improve quality of life, a key objective of Vision 2030. Maintaining clean air not only benefits public health and reduces respiratory illnesses but also enhances the Eastern Province's appeal as a major tourist and economic destination. Continued, rigorous monitoring and transparent data release underscore the commitment of relevant authorities to environmental protection and raising public awareness about environmental changes, enabling residents to take necessary precautions should indicators shift.