Researchers in Service of the Guests of God Award: Innovations for Hajj and Umrah
A national initiative to support innovation in Hajj and Umrah services
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, announced the launch of the second edition of the “Researchers Serving the Guests of God” award, opening registration to researchers and innovators from within the Kingdom and abroad. This ambitious initiative, themed “Research Innovation that Enriches the Hajj and Umrah Experience,” offers substantial cash prizes totaling 1,625,000 Saudi Riyals, aiming to support innovation and promote applied scientific research in the vital Hajj and Umrah sector.
Historical background and future vision
Since its founding, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed paramount importance on serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, continuously striving to enhance the services provided to pilgrims. This award is a natural extension of this historical legacy, aiming to elevate services beyond the traditional framework to broader horizons of innovation and excellence. The award aligns directly with the objectives of the "Guests of God Service Program," a key component of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to enable the largest possible number of Muslims to perform Hajj and Umrah in the best possible way, enriching and deepening their spiritual experience by preparing the Two Holy Mosques and providing high-quality services.
The importance and expected impact of the award
The significance of the award extends beyond financial support, serving as a strategic platform with multifaceted impact. Locally, it motivates the academic and research community in Saudi universities to focus their efforts on finding practical solutions to the challenges facing the Hajj and Umrah system. Regionally and internationally, the innovations resulting from this research will contribute to enhancing the experience of millions of pilgrims from around the world, thus solidifying the Kingdom's position as a leading global authority in crowd management and the provision of integrated religious and humanitarian services. The award also aims to encourage researchers and students to develop innovative solutions to current challenges and future opportunities in the sector by fostering partnerships between universities and implementing agencies.
Award themes and target categories
The award covers eight key areas that reflect the comprehensiveness of development trends in the sector, namely:
- Digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
- Enhancing the spiritual experience.
- Environmental sustainability.
- Crowd management and safety.
- Health services.
- Smart transportation.
- The economy and supporting services.
- Data governance.
The award targets two main categories: the first includes undergraduate and graduate students inside and outside the Kingdom, while the second category includes faculty members, independent researchers and employees of research institutions, with the possibility of participation in individual and group projects.
Valuable prizes and ongoing support
The first-place winner in each category receives 100,000 riyals, while the second-place winner receives 75,000 riyals. In addition, three special prizes are awarded for the best independent research. The benefits extend beyond monetary awards, including certificates of appreciation, opportunities for support and consultation to implement the winning projects, and ensuring that research ideas are transformed into tangible solutions that serve pilgrims. The Joint Executive Committee invites students and researchers to review the award criteria and categories and register through the official website of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
