Saudi Arabia Installs 74 Escalators for 2026 Hajj

Kidana Development Co., a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for Mecca City and Holy Sites, installed 74 escalators across key locations in Mina to ease pilgrim movement during the 2026 Hajj, Gulf News is among outlets to report. Implemented in three phases, the project saw 32 escalators installed in 2024, 32 in 2025 and 10 this year across eight sites. According to authorities, the escalators will shorten travel times between tent areas and service facilities and ease physical strain on pilgrims, particularly the elderly and physically handicapped. The new vertical-transportation equipment promises to enhance mobility efficiency and support safer, smoother crowd movement during peak periods of the pilgrimage on May 24-29.