JEDDAH, December 25, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Thousands of Muslims from the four corners of the world continue to flock to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj.

"As many as 622,510 pilgrims have arrived from abroad by Friday," Maj. Gen. Salim Al-Belaihed, head of the Directorate General for Passports, was quoted as saying by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

"Of these pilgrims 606,191 came by air, 9,912 by land and 6,407 by sea," he added.

More flights carrying pilgrims from different parts of the world are arriving at the Jeddah airport every hour.

The Saudi government announced earlier that it will launch a multi-pronged program to enhance awareness on how to perform proper hajj.

The program includes distributing books to Muslims on how to perform hajj rites, taking advantage of the gradual inflow of Muslims to Makkah to perform the coming hajj next month, The Saudi Gazette said.

Hajj consists of several ceremonies, meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, once in their lifetime.

The first patch of Palestinian pilgrims has already crossed the Jordan border on their way to the kingdom.

Ahmed Abdul Rahman, head of the pilgrims authority in the West Bank, praised Saudi efforts in the service of pilgrims and its support for the Palestinian cause, reported the Saudi daily Arab News.

Thousands of Palestinians are this year enjoying their first restrictions-free hajj after Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the Gaza Strip and handed over control of the Rafah border crossing, the only window to outside world, to the Palestinian Authority.

The first batch of the Iranian pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia Sunday, the SPA said.

Meanwhile, thousands of pilgrims arrived in Al-Madina to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque before heading for Makkah.

The last batch of more than 400 Malaysian pilgrims on direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Madina arrived Friday en route to Makkah.

Hasan Al-Bakry, director general of the Hajj Ministry’s office in Madina, said his office was providing a variety of services for the welfare of pilgrims.

"We coordinate with other departments to organize the transportation and accommodation of pilgrims in the holy city," he said.

He added that some 5,000 officials were involved in implementing the ministry’s hajj plan in Madina.

Saudi authorities have intensified their preparations for hajj.

Makkah Governor and Chairman of the Central Hajj Committee Prince Abdul Majeed will inspect on Monday, December 26, the hajj terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, the main gateway of pilgrims.

Abdullah Ruhaimy, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, said the authority’s plan to receive the pilgrims was progressing well.

"We prepare our hajj plan in light of our experiences in the past seasons," he added.

Ruhaimy said the Jeddah airport receives more than 65 percent of pilgrims who come from outside the Kingdom.

"During peak days of the season we receive a hajj flight every two minutes," he asserted.

The hajj terminal could accommodate nearly 55,000 pilgrims at a time.

"It’s like a full-fledged city where all services and amenities required by pilgrims are available," Ruhaimy said.

He added that the governor would inspect the new bus parking station, the baggage-weighing area, the joint operations room and the hajj operations center.

Prince Abdul Majeed will also receive a number of pilgrims and give gifts to them, and meet with officials to review progress of work at the terminal.

Makkah Mayor Khaled Nahhas has also signed contracts worth SR4.5 million to establish drainage systems to prevent flooding in case of rainfalls.