The Minister of Hajj and Umrah presents in Oxford the Kingdom’s transformative vision for serving the guests of Allah.
وزير الحج والعمرة يستعرض في أكسفورد رؤية المملكة التحولية لخدمة ضيوف الرحمن
His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, affirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s firm commitment, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Crown Prince – may God protect them – to provide a distinguished Hajj and Umrah experience that combines spiritual values, innovation, and service. In his speech at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, he explained that serving the guests of Allah is not merely a duty but an honor and a sacred trust, emphasizing that the Kingdom seeks to provide a spiritually enriching journey characterized by dignity and devotion. He highlighted that digital transformation is not a replacement for values but a support to them, saying: “Technology must support our values, not replace them; everything we build must reflect our commitment to dignity, faith, and the sanctity of every pilgrim’s journey in pursuit of God’s pleasure.” His Excellency drew attention to a number of pioneering initiatives that have brought a qualitative shift in serving the guests of Allah, including the electronic path in cooperation with over 80 countries and the “Nusuk” platform available in 126 countries, which allows pilgrims to manage their journeys independently without intermediaries. He also mentioned the smart cards linking pilgrims to their personal and health information, facilitating movement and ensuring safety. He referred to the use of artificial intelligence in the Grand Mosque to manage crowds and provide rapid emergency responses without affecting the tranquility of the site, alongside the “Nusuk” app, which offers more than 100 digital services in twenty languages and has issued over 13 million permits to visit the Prophet’s Rawdah, up from 4 million in 2022. His Excellency reviewed recent achievements, noting that the Kingdom hosted more than 18.5 million pilgrims and Umrah performers during 2024, reflecting the benefits of investment in infrastructure and human-centered innovation. He also emphasized the importance of preserving Islamic heritage, noting that the Kingdom has restored 55 Islamic and educational sites to strengthen visitors’ connection with the authentic Islamic history of Mecca and Medina. Meanwhile, Dr. Farhan Nizami, Director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, praised these efforts, saying: “The Kingdom’s integration of faith, history, and advanced technological solutions sets a global standard and achieves an inspiring balance between tradition and innovation.” The speech delivered by His Excellency at Oxford embodied the Kingdom’s leadership in developing the Hajj and Umrah experience on foundations of service, faith, and modern technology.