* Event highlights innovations in transportation, crowd management, eco-friendly solutions
The fourth edition of Hajj Exhibition and Conference, under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, began on Monday, 13th January in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Makkah Deputy Governor Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz inaugurated the event, which was attended by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Islamic ministers, ambassadors, representatives and stakeholders in hajj affairs from more than 100 countries, including Nigeria.
Muslim News gathered that the four-day event being hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, features the participation of over 300 exhibitors from various sectors and over 100 speakers, both local and international service provider.
According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the event includes 50 panel discussions focusing on shaping the future of sectors related to pilgrims, with an expected turnout of 150,000 visitors.
The deputy governor toured the exhibition held alongside the conference. Spanning an area of 50,000 square meters, the exhibition focuses on hajj services, showcasing the latest technologies and innovations aimed at enriching the hajj experience and enhancing services provided to pilgrims.
The theme of the conference is “The Road to the Nusuk,” with key topics such as logistics, transportation, crowd management, housing, hospitality and catering — pillars for improving rites and pilgrim services, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The event includes 47 discussion sessions, 50 workshops, and more than 130 local and international speakers addressing sustainability, eco-friendly technologies, AI in crowd management and digital solutions, while highlighting opportunities for startups and innovators in the hajj sector.
Saed Al-Jahni, chairman of the Coordination Council for Domestic Pilgrims Service Facilities, told Arab News that the event reflected Saudi’s Vision 2030 goal of enhancing the experience of the guests of Allah and providing top-tier services.
He added: “All relevant parties gather to showcase Saudi Arabia’s hajj efforts, attract thought leaders and innovators to exchange knowledge, anticipate future trends, share best practices, and foster partnerships, agreements and initiatives. The event also engages researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to tackle challenges and improve services for the guests of Allah.”
Mohammed Muajini, chairman of Ashraqat Hajj company, said that the aim was to showcase the company’s achievements and future initiatives to enhance hajj and umrah services through technology and artificial intelligence, in line with Vision 2030.
Nigeria was well-represented in this largest gathering dedicated to hajj and umrah services. All participants were at various times seen attentively engaged in serious discussions at the expo.
Among the attendees from Nigeria was the NAHCON Chairman Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, with his team; Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello and his counterpart from the House Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage, Hon. Jafaru Mohammed Ali, accompanied by their members.
Others seen at the exhibition were various Executive Secretaries of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and their leadership in persons of Chairman Forum of States Malam Idris Almakura and his Deputy Alhaji Faruku Musa Yaro Enabo in the company of other executive secretaries.
Similarly, individual members and executive members of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Organisations in Nigeria (AHOUN) were beheld exploring and engaging in discussions with various exhibitors.
Umza Aviation Services Nigeria in collaboration with Golden Sky runs a stand at the event.
Recall that the Prof Saleh Usman-led NAHCON also signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of Nigeria, which was held on Sunday 12th January 2025 in Jeddah, a day before the beginning of Hajj Expo. It will end on Thursday, 16th January.
– with additional information from NAHCON and SPA
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