The opening session of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition “Hajj Expo 2023” in its second edition, entitled “Quality and Competitiveness in Serving the Guests of God...a Future Vision,” shed light on the Kingdom’s efforts and wise leadership in serving the Guests of God, as it specifically discussed the Kingdom’s vision in Developing the Hajj and Umrah sector, aspiring to achieve the highest levels of quality and excellence in the services provided to the guests of God, and striving for their continuity and sustainability.
His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, opened the session by talking about the system of serving the Guests of God, which is witnessing development and undergoing a major shift, describing it as an integrated system with which all government sectors interact under the supervision of the wise leadership - may God support it -, saying: “It begins with Since the beginning of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage, everyone has come together to prepare and prepare with regard to visas, as well as transportation efforts to expand air traffic until Jeddah has become one of the most important global stations to which carriers from all countries of the world arrive, as well as the ground public transportation system, the efforts of all security sectors, and the efforts of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques. Each in its own way, which is what we see in the unprecedented numbers in the number of Umrah pilgrims compared to the months before the pandemic, thanks to the easy integration of these entities to provide the best services.”
His Excellency stressed the endeavor to enrich the experience in serving the guests of God in ease and ease, from the time the pilgrim begins obtaining the visa and visa to coming, staying, and visiting the Two Holy Mosques and historical places, as well as many procedures in the Hajj system, by opening competitiveness and basic changes to what they were in the past. Previous years, we will work to audit the quality of the services provided, and work on the projects on which the state-owned Kadanah Company is based to improve the services provided in the Holy Sites.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, pointed out that the “Made in Mecca” and “Made in Medina” identities emanating from the Made in Saudi Arabia program confirm the importance of Muslims’ connection to Mecca and Medina and their pride in the industries located there, saying: “We will raise Of the quality of products made in Mecca and Medina.”
His Excellency the General President of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, confirmed that the Presidency contributes to quality and competitiveness in the Two Holy Mosques, through its vision and mission, which revolves around quality and good service, and striving through technology in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to expand applications. And electronic platforms, including the Manarat Al-Haramain platform, which broadcasts lessons, lectures, and sermons of the Two Holy Mosques around the clock, as well as the presidency’s endeavor to issue an integrated encyclopedia about the Kingdom’s efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques.
His Excellency pointed out that the Presidency now - thanks to God - provides its services to the guests of God in more than 24 international languages, and is working with success partners to prepare the Two Holy Mosques for the guests of God so that the pilgrim and Umrah pilgrim finds all the facilities.
For his part, the CEO of the Royal Commission for the Holy City of Makkah and the Holy Sites, Engineer Saleh bin Ibrahim Al-Rasheed, confirmed that the Commission has completed many special solutions in the field of transportation during the past three years, including the Fourth Ring Road, which was launched with the implementation and follow-up of the Secretariat of the Holy Capital, as well as the First Ring Road. Which will be opened next Ramadan, and will serve the central region such as Jabal Omar and the Makkah Towers project, in addition to launching Makkah buses, which served during the past year about 25 million and six hundred thousand male and female passengers.
He added that the authority provided many housing solutions, such as the Masar and Dhakhir projects, in addition to strengthening the expansion areas of the Jabal Omar project, as well as the developed neighborhoods project, which is concerned with treating some of the slums in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, said: “Investment has been made in building a large infrastructure to serve pilgrims, such as a road network that exceeds 8,000 linear kilometers, in addition to the Haramain Train, the Holy Sites Train, King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, and Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz in Medina, in addition to a harmonious set of infrastructure and services.
While His Excellency the Assistant Minister of the Interior for Operations Affairs, Lieutenant General Saeed bin Abdullah Al-Qahtani, Secretary-General of the Supreme Hajj Committee, explained that the Ministry of Interior recently established special forces for Hajj and Umrah security, in addition to other forces present whether in Mecca, Medina, or the rest of the cities of the Kingdom that support Hajj security forces, in addition to A number of military departments and agencies supported Hajj security plans.