The SFDA CEO Reviews Field Preparedness for Hajj Season
As part of the Authority's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims, H.E. Prof. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), conducted a field visit to the SFDA office in Makkah. The visit aimed to assess the implementation of operational plans for the 2025 Hajj season and confirm the readiness of services provided by the Authority to support a safe and healthy pilgrimage.
During the visit, Dr. Aljadhey emphasized to all SFDA inspectors and monitors the importance of intensifying efforts to protect the safety of food and medicine for pilgrims. He praised the vital roles they play across all sites and facilities under the SFDA’s supervision, stating that serving the pilgrims of the Holy Mosque is a great honor and responsibility entrusted to the Authority and its staff each year.
Dr. Aljadhey reviewed the SFDA’s initiatives to apply the highest regulatory standards, leverage modern technologies, and utilize artificial intelligence to monitor factories and warehouses, ensuring the quality of products provided during Hajj. The tour included a visit to the SFDA’s Hajj Operations Center in Makkah, where he was briefed on ongoing coordination with government entities, performance monitoring mechanisms, and support provided to field teams during inspection tours. These tours are enhanced by advanced tools, such as body-worn cameras, used to document field inspection activities.
Dr. Aljadhey also visited the SFDA’s site located in the regulatory zone within the Holy Sites area, where he reviewed field surveillance plans covering food factories and warehouses. This location serves as a primary base for the deployment of regulatory field teams. The SFDA staff presented the procedures for collecting food samples and referring them to laboratories to verify product safety, in addition to showcasing the advanced digital systems employed for this purpose.
Furthermore, Dr. Aljadhey visited the Emergency Hospital in Mina, where he met with Dr. Abdullah bin Rashoud Al-Algwizani, CEO of the Public Health Authority "Weqaya." The meeting highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration between the two authorities to enhance the safety and health of pilgrims.
The tour also included a visit to the National Health Emergency and Crisis Management Center, where Dr. Aljadhey was briefed on the proactive efforts undertaken by government entities stationed at the center. He stressed the significance of the center’s role in supporting public health and the need to reinforce regulatory integration and coordination among all relevant stakeholders.
Throughout the visits, the SFDA teams showcased smart analytical tools and digital regulatory technologies employed in surveillance and inspection operations. These tools form part of an interactive, AI-powered oversight system designed to enhance operational efficiency and contribute to achieving the SFDA’s public health and safety goals during the Hajj season.
