This was on the sidelines of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition (Hajj Expo 2023) held in Saudi Arabia­January 9-12.

The agreement forms part of the Ministry’s initial preparations for the Hajj season for the cur­

 rent year 2023 (1444 AH), as well as efforts to facilitate the arrival of pilgrims, raise the quality of services provided to them and enrich their religion and culture, in order to achieve the goals of the Vision 2030.

The agreement included the allocated quota, ports and means of arrival and departure, as well as organisational instructions that enhance the safety and comfort of pilgrims from the moment of preparation for the journey of a lifetime until leaving the King­dom of Saudi Arabia.

The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Ara­bia, the holiest city for Muslims and it is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime.

This year’s Hajj is expected to start on June 26 and end on July 1.

The Hajj Expo 2023 is the largest gathering and event related to Hajj and Umrah, was attended by more than 57 coun­tries, 70 speakers and experts, 200 companies specialised in the Hajj and Umrah sector, and more than 60,000 visitors to the exhibition.

“The gathering offered space for exchanging visions, ideas, innovations and experiences, and it is an opportunity for countries to be present to sign their agree­ments and arrange the affairs of their citizens in advance of the Hajj and Umrah seasons, and this is reflected in the comfort of pil­grims and the facilitation of their affairs,” the statement said.

According to the statement the Minister of Hajj and Umrah also signed a number of agree­ments with other countries upon receiving their delegations under the framework of the develop­mental procedures offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

“It is worth noting that the conference, during four days in forty workshops, in addition to nine main sessions, discussed several topics that contribute to developing the experience of pil­grims, employing digital solutions, and working to build an inte­grated and sustainable system to develop and enhance the services provided, and achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” the statement added.

“All these efforts come within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s endeavour to provide distinguished services to the pilgrims, and work to enrich their experience at all levels of logistics, security, technology, as well as cultural and knowledge, through the program of pilgrims and the concerted efforts of all government sectors, the private sector, entrepreneurs and part­ners, from around the world,” the statement added.