The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs has distributed 3.3 million Awareness Messages to Umrah Pilgrims
RIYADH: For many Umrah travellers arriving in Makkah, Islamic advice is just a scan away. Digital screens are becoming a familiar part of the pilgrimage journey, from hotel prayer rooms overlooking the Grand Mosque to mosques on the outskirts of the holy city, giving worshippers instant access to religious advice, educational material, and practical guidance in multiple languages.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has delivered more than 3.3 million awareness messages in nine languages during the first quarter of the 1448 AH Umrah season to some 225,000 beneficiaries. This is part of the ministry’s efforts to enhance pilgrims’ spiritual experience and help them perform their rituals correctly.
The messages appeared on electronic screens in hotel prayer halls near the Grand Mosque and in mosques outside Makkah’s sacred boundary, offering step-by-step guidance on Umrah rituals, religious practices, and worship, along with information to help pilgrims follow regulations and safety procedures.
The screens act as portals to a larger digital library. Worshippers can scan QR codes to instantly get religious texts, educational resources and guidance material in their desired language.
The program is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to marry traditional religious ceremonies with modern technology, making information more accessible to the millions of pilgrims who visit the Kingdom from around the world each year.
In addition to the digital displays, the ministry also offers a multilingual toll-free service where pilgrims can seek help on Umrah rituals and other religious issues from experienced specialists.
This project is one part of a broader digital transformation being rolled out across the pilgrimage industry as part of Vision 2030’s Pilgrim Experience Program which seeks to improve services and enhance the experience for tourists to the Two Holy Mosques.
That metamorphosis is increasingly evident at each stage of the pilgrim experience. The Nusuk portal of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah currently offers customers worldwide more than 130 services, with its AI assistant providing religious and practical counsel in more than 180 languages.
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