Deputy Governor Opens 6th Hajj Conference and Exhibition
Jeddah : Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, today inaugurated the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition.
Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah at the Jeddah Superdome, the four-day event is held under the theme “From Makkah to the World” in collaboration with the Pilgrim Experience Program, a Vision 2030 initiative. The opening was attended by royal and senior officials, heads of Hajj missions, and representatives of Hajj affairs offices from across the Islamic world.
During a tour of the exhibition, Prince Saud viewed technologies, initiatives, and smart solutions designed to improve services for pilgrims. He also visited pavilions representing government, private-sector, and non-profit organizations.
Speaking on behalf of King Salman, the Deputy Governor welcomed attendees to Saudi Arabia and conveyed the King’s greetings. He said the Kingdom continues to prioritize serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims by developing the Hajj ecosystem, improving service quality, adopting new technologies, and strengthening coordination among government agencies. These efforts aim to support a smooth journey for pilgrims, from their departure from home countries through their safe return.
He added that the continued success of Hajj seasons reflects the readiness and efficiency of the sector. The Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition, he said, supports this work by strengthening cooperation, facilitating agreements, and advancing preparations for the Hajj season.
Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Pilgrim Experience Program Committee, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, highlighted developments across the sector. The number of service providers for international pilgrims has grown to 34 companies, while direct contracting is now available in 58 countries. The Direct Hajj program has also enabled pilgrims from an additional 75 countries to perform Hajj.
Preparations for the 1448 AH Hajj season are underway with Hajj affairs offices in 78 countries. Other developments include investment in the Holy Sites and transport infrastructure, expansion of the Nusuk platform and app to more than 70 million users, and a reported pilgrim satisfaction rate of 93% in 1447 AH.
Dr. Al-Rabiah described the conference as a global platform for early planning, partnership-building, contract finalization, and service development. The opening ceremony also featured remarks on behalf of Hajj affairs office heads from Indonesia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Muhammad Irfan Yusuf. An awareness and training forum and a unified portal for personnel were launched during the event.
Agreements and partnerships
Prince Saud witnessed the signing of eight agreements and memoranda of understanding, including:
- An agreement between the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Education to draw on educational expertise in serving pilgrims.
- An agreement with the Ministry of Tourism to improve the quality of Hajj accommodation in Makkah and Madinah.
- An MoU with Saudia to establish and operate a Hajj travel terminal in Makkah.
- A cooperation agreement with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to support talent development, research, and innovation for pilgrim services.
- An MoU between the King Abdulaziz Endowment for the Al-Ain Al-Aziziyah Water Project and the Hajj and Umrah Pilgrim Gift Association (Hadiyah) to improve the experience of visitors and pilgrims.
- A strategic partnership between the General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and the Nusuk Humanitarian Foundation to develop initiatives benefiting pilgrims.
- A partnership between the General Authority for Awqaf and the Nusuk Humanitarian Foundation to establish and manage a portfolio of development and humanitarian projects for pilgrims.
- The Wasil Al-Haram project agreement, involving the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, its executive arm the General Transport Center, and consortia led by the Qayed Group and Mawqif Company. Valued at SAR 5.6 billion, the project aims to develop transport hubs and routes to and from the Grand Mosque and improve services through private-sector collaboration.
At the close of the ceremony, the Deputy Governor honored participating organizations and partners. The exhibition brings together more than 520 domestic and international entities from the government, private, and non-profit sectors, with attendees from over 150 countries. Spanning more than 67,000 square meters, it provides a meeting place for Hajj affairs offices, service providers, organizations, and specialists to support early preparation, improve services, and develop partnerships and solutions that enhance the pilgrim experience.
