As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to leverage modern technology to serve pilgrims, and in line with the goals of Vision 2030 aimed at facilitating the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, digital services are integrated with on-the-ground organizational efforts to provide a seamless and safe spiritual experience. The technological aspect has received significant development, ranging from smart applications that accompany pilgrims throughout their rituals to the governance of charitable activities such as organizing Iftar meals at the Two Holy Mosques.
Your guide to using the digital pilgrim service
The "Digital Guide" represents a significant leap forward in guiding pilgrims, eliminating the need for a human assistant and providing highly accurate religious and spatial guidance. To benefit from this service, you can follow these steps:
- Starting the service: Click on the "Start Service" option from the main interface of the application to review the available features and details.
- Language customization: Choose your preferred language of use to ensure that the instructions are clearly understood, then click on the "Start Umrah" icon.
- To learn about the rituals: Go to the "Umrah Rituals" section which provides a comprehensive guide explaining how to perform the rituals step by step.
- Performing Tawaf: Begin your spiritual journey with the ritual of Tawaf, where you can listen to the traditional audio supplications, use the "round counter" to keep track of the number, and be guided by the interactive map of Tawaf locations within the Haram.
- Prayer behind the Station: After finishing, press “Next” to proceed to the ritual of praying two rak’ahs behind the Station of Ibrahim, with an explanation of the locations of the available prayer areas.
- The ritual of Sa’i: Proceed to the Sa’i between Safa and Marwa, using the audio supplications, the counter of the rounds, and the locations of the Sa’i shown.
- The release and conclusion: Follow the instructions for releasing the state of Ihram as the last of the rituals, and a congratulatory message will appear for completing the Umrah, asking God for acceptance.
Applications are now open for permits to provide meals for those fasting during Ramadan 1447 AH
In terms of field organization and charitable work, the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques announced the commencement of accepting applications for permits to provide iftar meals for fasting individuals within the Two Holy Mosques during the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH. This initiative comes as part of a strategic partnership with the national charitable platform "Ihsan" and the "Nusk" humanitarian foundation, aiming to ensure the highest standards of quality and governance in meal provision.
Application deadlines and target groups
The authority explained that applications are available according to a specific timetable to ensure the smooth flow of procedures:
- For individuals: Applications for the Grand Mosque will be accepted from the 3rd to the 5th of Sha’ban, and for the Prophet’s Mosque from the 6th to the 8th of Sha’ban.
- For non-profit organizations: Applications for the Grand Mosque will be accepted from 6 to 8 Sha’ban, and for the Prophet’s Mosque from 9 to 11 Sha’ban.
Controls and payment mechanism
To ensure order, quantity limits have been set, restricting individuals to one trip (25 or 50 meals per day), while organizations have a minimum of 10 trips for men and 10 for women. Payment is processed electronically and securely through the "Ihsan" platform within 72 hours of application, and the price includes full service execution by approved catering companies.
These measures embody the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting the values of social solidarity and serving the pilgrims of the Two Holy Mosques in accordance with an advanced system that ensures the safety and comfort of the guests of God.
