Under the patronage of The Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, the Deputy Governor of Makkah, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, launched the "Meeting to Initiate Planning Efforts for Hajj 1446 AH." This event, organized by the Hajj Projects Office under the Service of the Pilgrim Experience Program-part of Vision 2030-brought together 60 entities involved in the Hajj system, with the attendance of senior officials. During the meeting, Prince Saud bin Mishaal officially announced the commencement of time planning for the Hajj season 1446 AH, emphasizing the importance of elevating operational standards, refining systems, and enhancing procedures. He stressed improving worker efficiency in the Hajj and Umrah sectors and finding immediate, practical solutions to challenges as they arise. In his speech, Prince Saud conveyed Prince Khalid's appreciation to the organizations responsib le for serving pilgrims. He acknowledged their tireless efforts to ensure the comfort of pilgrims and highlighted the Kingdom's leadership's unwavering dedication to providing exceptional services, adhering to the highest standards. Prince Saud stated: "Today's gathering aims to achieve key goals, primarily building on the successes of Hajj 1445 AH. Allah has blessed this nation with the ability to serve pilgrims, enabling them to fulfill Islam's fifth pillar of peace, security, and comfort. Our top priority is early preparation for the upcoming Hajj season, ensuring we fulfil our responsibilities toward those who visit the holiest sites on earth." The Deputy Governor underscored the importance of intensified collaboration and coordination among all sectors involved to improve services and make the Hajj journey more accessible and seamless for all pilgrims. The meeting also reviewed the achievements of Hajj 1445 AH, a testament to our collective dedication. These included 300 operational plans to enhanc e readiness, the activation of the Nusuk card, successful trial operations of Hajj flights from Taif International Airport, the expansion of the Makkah Route Initiative, partial opening of the direct Jeddah-Makkah road, improved transportation between Mina and the Grand Mosque, and the application of heat-reducing paints near Namirah Mosque. Looking ahead to Hajj 1446 AH, the session explored comprehensive readiness plans, operational performance indicators, and quality measurement standards. The event also featured a workshop titled "Alignment on Services, Roles, and Main Features," which focused on refining service standards and boosting data-sharing practices for readiness indicators. Source: Saudi Press Agency