Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance has unveiled a range of digital services to enhance the pilgrimage experience and streamline the ministry staff’s work.
Among the services is a Sharia awareness application designed to guide pilgrims through Hajj rituals, complete with a translation feature for non-Arabic speakers. The ‘Rushd application has been created to disseminate credible e-books and incorporates an e-library.
The ministry has also introduced a novel electronic transaction platform, report management tools, and a ‘virtual workspace’ for its personnel.
As per Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, these initiatives align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, aiming to embrace digital transformation fully.
In the meantime, the Hajj and Visit Committee reports that 744,862 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah for this year’s Hajj, with 587,845 already en route to, or arrived in, Makkah.
The Women’s Affairs Agency at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah is actively offering services to female visitors. Staff training sessions have been organized to manage crowd movement, clarify guidelines, and provide basic language support for tourists.
The Presidency in Madinah has also launched a new program, ‘Comfort and Spirituality in the Prophet’s Mosque,’ to welcome the pilgrims warmly.