Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the fifth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition commenced in Jeddah under the theme From Makkah to the World. Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in cooperation with the Pilgrim Experience Program (an initiative under Saudi Vision 2030), the event marks a significant step in advancing global collaboration in pilgrimage services. The opening also witnessed the inauguration of the first History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques Forum by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah). Attendees included ministers, senior officials, representatives from Islamic countries, and heads of Hajj affairs offices.
The ceremony opened with a speech by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, delivered on his behalf by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to continuing the mission initiated by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud to serve the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors. The message emphasized the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to develop and enhance pilgrim services, ensuring that visitors perform their rituals in comfort and safety. The speech highlighted Saudi Arabia’s devotion to maintaining Makkah and Madinah as centers of peace, spirituality, and innovation.
Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, underscored that the conference embodies the leadership’s vision and continuous investment in modernizing Hajj services in alignment with Vision 2030. He shared that over 60% of basic contracts for pilgrims have already been completed, and preparations for 50% of the holy sites are well underway, expected to be finalized by the start of Dhu al-Qi’dah. Al-Rabiah also announced that the Nusuk digital platform now serves more than 40 million users globally, reflecting the success of Saudi Arabia’s technological transformation in religious tourism. His remarks reinforced the Kingdom’s goal to create a more seamless and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience for Muslims worldwide.
Following the keynote speeches, several cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed among participating institutions to strengthen partnerships in technology, logistics, and service excellence. The conference and exhibition will continue until November 12, featuring 143 dialogue sessions and workshops. Experts and scholars from more than 150 countries are participating, focusing on the intersection of faith, technology, and hospitality. This event stands as a global platform for enhancing collaboration and innovation in serving pilgrims and improving the overall Hajj experience.
Alexander Jason – Redaksi
