Minister of Hajj: The strategy of the non-profit sector and 400,000 volunteers
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, announced the outlines of a new strategy aimed at empowering and developing the non-profit sector within the Hajj and Umrah system, revealing an ambitious goal of reaching 400,000 volunteers to serve the pilgrims. This announcement comes as part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality of services provided to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and to promote a culture of volunteerism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Pillars and objectives of the new strategy
The new strategy focuses on transforming volunteer work in the holy sites from individual efforts to organized and sustainable institutional work. Through this plan, the Ministry aims to enhance the efficiency of associations and non-profit organizations operating in this field, ensuring the provision of professional services befitting the status of the pilgrims. This includes providing necessary training for volunteers, organizing fieldwork mechanisms, and utilizing technology to facilitate their tasks, thus ensuring smooth movement and providing assistance to pilgrims at all stages of their spiritual journey.
The context of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and volunteer work
This announcement cannot be separated from the broader context of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which has set a strategic goal of reaching one million volunteers annually in the non-profit sector. The Hajj and Umrah sector is the largest and most important contributor to achieving this figure, given the enormous population density in Mecca and Medina during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. The Kingdom is working to strengthen the role of the "third sector" to be a key partner to the public and private sectors in comprehensive development, and this initiative is expected to increase the non-profit sector's contribution to the GDP.
Historical significance and expected impact
Historically, serving pilgrims has relied heavily on direct government efforts and private institutions (pilgrim service providers). With modern transformations, the need to integrate the non-profit sector more deeply has become apparent to bridge service gaps and provide humanitarian and social care. Targeting 400,000 volunteers is not merely a number; it reflects a profound cultural and social shift towards giving back.
Domestically, this expansion will create training and development opportunities for Saudi youth, honing their skills in crowd management, languages, and intercultural communication. Regionally and internationally, the success of this strategy will enhance the Kingdom's image as a leader in crowd management and humanitarian services, reinforcing its pivotal role in serving the Muslim world and facilitating Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages with the highest standards of quality and safety.
