As part of ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of the air transport system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, conducted an extensive inspection tour of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The visit aimed to assess operations firsthand and ensure the readiness of facilities and services provided to passengers and pilgrims during the peak season of Ramadan.

A comprehensive field tour of the airport facilities

Engineer Saleh Al-Jasser began his tour by inspecting the departure and arrival halls, where he reviewed the operational procedures at the electronic gates and the modern technologies used to expedite travel procedures and reduce waiting times. The visit also included the duty-free area and passport control counters, where he received a detailed explanation of the services provided to departing and arriving passengers, ensuring a smooth and comfortable travel experience.

The tour also included a visit to the airport's health monitoring center to ensure its readiness to deal with any health emergencies, as well as an inspection of the customs area and a look at the latest inspection and detection equipment for prohibited items that contribute to enhancing security and facilitating transit.

Monitoring the trips and showing concern for our Gulf brothers

In addressing the evolving situation, the Minister of Transport reviewed updates on flights affected by current events, directing close monitoring of travel flow to ensure smooth operations. He paid particular attention to the efforts being made to assist stranded citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at the Kingdom's airports, emphasizing the provision of all means of comfort and care for them, in accordance with the directives of the wise leadership, which consistently affirms the deep fraternal ties and shared destiny among the Gulf states and their people.

The importance of King Abdulaziz Airport and the objectives of Vision 2030

King Abdulaziz International Airport holds immense strategic importance as the primary gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and a key hub for regional and international air traffic. These inspection tours are part of the efforts to achieve the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, stemming from the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics center, increase airport capacity to accommodate 330 million passengers annually, and reach 30 million Umrah pilgrims.

Operational plan for the 1447 AH Umrah season

In response to the high volume of pilgrims, Jeddah Airports has adopted its operational plan for the peak Umrah season of 1447 AH. The plan aims to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims by operating three main terminals, supporting staff with over 10,000 employees, and enhancing passport control counters and moving walkways to ensure the highest standards of efficiency and ease of use.

Al-Jasser concluded his tour by sharing a Ramadan breakfast with the airport staff, praising their great efforts and the joint coordination between all sectors working at the airport to serve the pilgrims and travelers.

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure public health and consumer safety during peak seasons, the Jeddah Municipality revealed the results of its intensive inspection tours during the first ten days of Ramadan 1447 AH. These measures are part of a comprehensive seasonal plan aimed at raising the level of compliance with municipal regulations in food and commercial establishments.

Results of inspection tours and observed violations

The municipality explained that it conducted approximately 5,000 field visits across the governorate. These visits resulted in the detection of a number of violations that directly affect consumer health, the most prominent of which were:

• Conducting business activity without obtaining the necessary licenses.
• Employing workers who do not possess health certificates proving that they are free from contagious diseases.
• Failure to display the unified electronic code (QR Code) that allows beneficiaries to verify the legitimacy of the establishment.

The inspection teams also dealt with more than 100 reports received from residents, and took random samples of food to conduct laboratory tests to ensure its suitability for human consumption.

Focus on vital sectors during Ramadan

The Jeddah Municipality's seasonal plan focused on sectors experiencing increased activity during the holy month. Inspection tours included waterfronts, main roads and thoroughfares, and major shopping centers. Particular emphasis was placed on monitoring:

• Shops selling dates, sweets, and nuts.
• Fish, meat and poultry markets.
• Juice shops, dairy shops, and kitchens.

This emphasis comes in light of the sensitivity of these products and their rapid susceptibility to storage conditions, which necessitates strict monitoring to ensure that they reach the consumer in a safe and healthy manner.

The importance of municipal oversight and its impact on the urban landscape

The municipality's efforts are not limited to public health; they also extend to improving the urban landscape and combating negative phenomena. In this context, the municipality has intensified its efforts to monitor street vendors and remove makeshift stalls that typically spring up during peak seasons, in order to curb unregulated street vending that lacks even the most basic safety standards, obstructs traffic, and mars the city's overall appearance.

These campaigns are an integral part of the national strategy to enhance quality of life, as strict monitoring contributes to creating a fair competitive environment for regulated establishments and enhances consumer confidence in local markets, which positively impacts the economic and tourism activity in the region.

Call for community participation

In conclusion, the Jeddah Municipality emphasized the importance of community involvement in monitoring, urging residents and visitors to report any observed health or commercial violations. Reports can be easily submitted through the "Baladi" app available on smartphones, or by calling the unified municipal reporting number 940. affirmed its commitment to working around the clock to ensure a healthy and safe environment for everyone throughout the holy month.