King Salman launches new program to 'enrich' pilgrimage experience

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman officially launched on Tuesday the “Enriching Hajj & Umrah Experience” program, one of the most important Vision 2030 programs, the Center for International Communication (CIC) said on Wednesday.

With the ambitious objective of reaching 30 million Umrah visitors annually by 2030, the program’s mission is to achieve a quantum leap in every service provided to visitors of Saudi Arabia, whether coming for Hajj, Umrah, or simply to experience the unparalleled Islamic and national heritage in the Kingdom, the statement said.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is following up on the program to upgrade services, facilitating and enriching Hajj and Umrah experience. The program’s strategy is to provide “Spiritual fulfilment and memorable experience, at the fingertips of all Muslims globally”, CIC statement added.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia takes its responsibility of hosting the two holiest sites for all Muslims with the utmost care and devotion. Everyone in the Kingdom considers it an honor to serve our visitors,” said Dr Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, Chairman of the program’s committee.

The program’s strategic initiatives actually start at the doorsteps of Saudi Arabia’s visitors: streamlining and introducing a complete e-visa process that begins and ends for them in the comfort of their own homes.

The “Enriching Hajj & Umrah Experience” program is also working on a comprehensive online platform that acts as a one-stop shop for everything a visitor might need: from learning about the Kingdom’s rich Islamic heritage to booking every aspect of their trip, CIC statement added.

The program has a complete set of initiatives that are dedicated to enriching the experience of all visitors, through preserving and developing more than 40 Islamic and historical heritage locations.

This will involve creating cutting-edge immersive experiences, where visitors get to relive some of the most iconic events in the history of Islam, such as the pilgrimage path of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), and “Ghar Hira’a” where the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) used to meditate and reflect.

The initiatives also include museums spread throughout the visitor’s journey that showcase the Kingdom’s rich Islamic and cultural heritage, tailored to every language and age.

The digital team is also working with multiple entities in Saudi Arabia to introduce the latest technologies available for crowd management and wayfinding. Predictive technologies will enable the creation of the safest and smoothest possible experiences for visitors.