Since its founding, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has given utmost attention and care to the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, considering the honor of serving pilgrims and Umrah performers a historic and leading mission that the Kingdom has undertaken. In this context, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Ghassan Al-Nuaimi, affirmed during a press briefing held in Makkah that the Kingdom continues to dedicate all its resources to serving the guests of God during the Hajj season of 1447 AH. This support comes under the directives of the wise leadership, with direct supervision from the Supreme Hajj Committee and continuous monitoring by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Strategic context and Vision 2030
These tremendous efforts fall under the objectives of the "Guests of God Service Program," one of the most important programs of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to bring about a qualitative leap in the Hajj and Umrah experience. Dr. Al-Nuaimi explained that last year's Hajj season achieved an exceptional 91% pilgrim satisfaction rate, which formed the new baseline from which development plans for the 1447 AH Hajj season were launched. The Ministry finalized arrangements for pilgrims with more than 78 countries six months prior to the season through the "Electronic Track" platform, which completed contractual processes encompassing more than 500 integrated services with 80 entities and over 5,000 service providers.
From service to hospitality: raising the bar
This year witnessed a qualitative shift from the concept of "service" to that of "hospitality." More than 607 hospitality centers were activated to address the needs of pilgrims, with over 30,000 staff members trained in digital solutions and field operations management. More than 630,000 awareness materials were also disseminated in multiple languages to enhance pilgrim awareness. In a pioneering step to facilitate the pilgrimage, the "Hajj Without Luggage" initiative was implemented for the first time for all pilgrims from abroad, reducing airport processing times from 120 minutes to just 15 minutes. Currently, more than 111,000 personnel are dedicated to serving the pilgrims in conjunction with the plans for their movement to Mina.
Infrastructure development and holy sites
On the ground, more than 25 development projects were implemented, representing a 100% increase over last year. These included expanding the capacity in Mina by providing 54,000 tents and planting 60,000 trees as part of the "Green Sites" initiative. The project to cool the area surrounding Mount Arafat, covering 272,000 square meters, is considered one of the most significant initiatives to reduce temperatures. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques also enhanced its readiness by activating the Third Saudi Expansion and providing simultaneous translation of the Arafat sermon into more than 50 languages.
International impact and technical employment
This meticulous organization carries significant regional and international weight, showcasing the Kingdom's exceptional ability to manage massive crowds and leverage advanced technology, thus enhancing its soft power and its position as the heart of the Islamic world. The Nusuk app now serves over 51 million users across 131 digital services, while the Nusuk smart card contributes to operational efficiency. To ensure quality, more than 83,000 inspection tours have been conducted, and the monitoring center tracks over 95 performance indicators in collaboration with 42 government entities. This integrated system underscores that humanitarian care and a safe and secure Hajj experience remain at the heart of the Kingdom's commitment to serving the pilgrims.
