Makkah: The Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association is actively engaging in efforts to support crowd management at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, working in collaboration with the Makkah Grand Mosque Security Force. This initiative is a part of the association's annual public service camps that are conducted in Makkah and its holy sites.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the scout teams participating in this initiative offer a variety of volunteer services within the Grand Mosque. These services include guiding lost visitors, assisting the elderly and individuals with disabilities by providing cart-pushing assistance, and ensuring the smooth flow of crowds within the corridors and courtyards of the mosque.
Scout Leader Fawaz bin Mariziq Al-Otaibi, who heads the crowd management committee at the public service camps, emphasized the association's extensive cumulative experience in crowd management. This experience spans several decades and is developed annually through time, space, and technical plans. The association adapts to changes and enhances the efficiency of its field performance.
Al-Otaibi noted that the major expansion of the Grand Mosque has significantly improved the flexibility of movement inside, facilitating easier entry and exit for pilgrims and enabling scout teams to fulfill their roles more effectively. He highlighted that the association's involvement in crowd management during the Hajj and Umrah seasons is an extension of its national role and is recognized as one of the successful global scouting experiences. The association has been invited to present its crowd management experience at international forums and conferences, showcasing it as a model of organized volunteer work rooted in training and discipline.