Global Leadership in Hajj

This is the ambitious vision of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, represented by the Hajj and Umrah Administration and its young leadership, starting with the Director of the Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department, Sattam Khaled Al-Muzain, and his distinguished team, with strong support from the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Al-Osaimi, and the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Suwailim.

For years, Hajj affairs have undergone continuous and unprecedented development in every detail, beginning with digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence in the pilgrim registration process through the “Sahl” application, which reduces the time required to express interest in Hajj registration to just a few minutes.

Through smart devices, a qualitative leap has been achieved that has contributed to transparency in pilgrim selection and reduced the cost of Hajj trips. Notifications are sent via the application to pilgrims accepted for the Hajj season. During the pilgrim nomination period, a Hajj exhibition is held at the Expo Center in the Mishref area, enriching the experience and allowing pilgrims to choose the campaign that best suits them in terms of service quality and price, while fostering competition among Hajj companies to offer the best services at the best prices.

Pilgrims can also select their campaign through the Hajj platform, where each company presents its services and prices. After the pilgrim registration phase is completed, the process of preparing necessary services begins, including accommodation in Mecca, setting up camps at the sacred sites in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, and providing transportation, catering, health, and cultural services for each campaign. Each campaign is accompanied by a medical team and a religious guide, in addition to the necessary administrative staff.

All these efforts converge in important Hajj committees, such as the pilgrim dispatch committee, which selects appropriate times for pilgrims to move between rituals, avoiding peak hours and congestion.

All these successes, continuous planning, and cooperation between official state entities, Hajj companies, and the private sector are driven by individuals who appreciate the magnitude of the responsibility entrusted to them. This has made Kuwait a pioneer in the field of Hajj for more than seven consecutive decades, with the first Hajj delegation departing in 1956. Each year, performance is evaluated to identify necessary improvements and avoid mistakes in upcoming Hajj seasons.

Currently, it is the period for pilgrim nominations and the Hajj exhibition. We wish the Hajj Affairs Administration and Hajj companies every success, and we hope for a distinctive Hajj season, God willing. We extend our gratitude to the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for its monumental efforts in serving the guests of the Most Merciful. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making great and continuous efforts to serve the pilgrims of the House of Allah, facilitating the performance of rituals in a safe and comfortable environment, and providing the best services to pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.