Ministry of Hajj & Umrah and Ministry of Education Announce Registration for the "Researchers in Service of the Guests of Allah" Award
"الحج والعمرة" و"التعليم" تعلنان فتح باب التسجيل في جائزة "باحثون في خدمة ضيوف الرحمن"
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, announced the opening of registration for the second edition of the "Researchers in Service of the Guests of Rahman" award. Launched under the slogan "Research Innovation to Enrich the Pilgrim’s Experience," the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to foster innovation and activate applied scientific research in the Hajj and Umrah sector, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The award aims to motivate researchers and students to innovate practical solutions for field challenges and future opportunities within the sector through effective partnerships between universities and executive authorities. This contributes to elevating the experience of the Guests of Rahman and solidifying the Kingdom's position as a leading global reference in crowd management and the provision of religious and humanitarian services. The award targets two main categories: the first includes undergraduate and postgraduate students from universities within and outside the Kingdom; the second includes faculty members, independent researchers, and those affiliated with research institutions. This applies to individual and group projects, as well as joint initiatives between students and researchers. The award is distributed across eight main tracks: Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence, Enhancing the Spiritual Experience, Environmental Sustainability, Crowd Management and Safety, Health Services, Smart Transportation, Economics and Support Services, and Data Governance. The first-place winner in each track will receive 100,000 SAR, while the second-place winner will be awarded 75,000 SAR, in addition to three special prizes for the best independent research projects, bringing the total prize pool to 1,625,000 Saudi Riyals. Non-monetary rewards include honorary certificates and opportunities for support and consultation necessary to implement the winning projects. The executive committee, formed by both ministries, invited interested students and researchers to review the terms and tracks of the award and to register via the official Ministry of Hajj and Umrah website: www.haj.gov.sa. The committee emphasized the importance of utilizing scientific research and innovation to develop the services provided to the Guests of Rahman and to enhance the sustainability of excellence in this vital sector.