Jeddah: Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the fifth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition commenced in Jeddah, themed “From Makkah to the World”. The event is a joint effort between the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, an initiative under Saudi Vision 2030.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the conference included the launch of the inaugural History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques Forum, organized by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah). The opening was attended by ministers, senior officials, representatives from Islamic countries, and heads of Hajj affairs offices.

The ceremony featured a speech by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, delivered by Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz. The speech reaffirmed the Kingdom’s enduring commitment to the initiatives started by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud in serving the two holy mosques and caring for their visitors. There was a strong emphasis on Saudi Arabia’s dedication to enhancing the services offered to pilgrims, ensuring ease and comfort in performing their rituals.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah highlighted that the conference underscores the leadership’s support and the Kingdom’s continuous efforts to improve the Hajj services sector in alignment with Vision 2030. The aim is to provide a seamless, spiritual, and enriching experience for worshippers.

Tawfig Al-Rabiah further disclosed that contracts for over 60% of pilgrims have been finalized, and preparations for 50% of the holy sites are complete, with full readiness expected by the 1st of Dhu al-Qi’dah. He also noted that the Nusuk app now serves over 40 million users worldwide.

Following the speeches, several agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed among participating entities to bolster cooperation in technology, operations, and service quality for pilgrims.

The conference and exhibition will continue until November 12, featuring more than 143 dialogue sessions and workshops with the participation of leading experts and speakers from over 150 countries.