Saturday 25 / October / 2025
Muscat: The Second Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition concluded with a number of recommendations covering various organisational, technical, awareness, economic, and health aspects.
The recommendations aim to develop the Hajj and Umrah system, enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims, and keep pace with modern developments, while strengthening integration between various stakeholders inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman.
On the organisational and administrative side, the conference emphasised the importance of continuing to enhance coordination and integration between government and private entities involved in Hajj and Umrah affairs, and the participation of those in charge of the sector in regional and international forums to exchange expertise.
It also emphasised the development of Hajj-related regulations and efforts to address the challenges facing the Hajj schedule, ensuring quality of delivery and saving effort, time, and money.
On the technical side and smart services, the conference recommended moving forward towards a complete digital transformation of Hajj and Umrah services from the registration stage through return, using artificial intelligence technologies to improve logistical needs and implementing a smart tracking system for pilgrims and Umrah performers using GPS technology, smart bracelets, or phone applications, ensuring the speed and accuracy of procedures and the safety of pilgrims.
On the awareness and legal front, the conference recommended the implementation of comprehensive awareness programmes before pilgrims depart to perform the rituals, the production of high-quality media content that enhances religious, administrative, and health awareness, the encouragement of academic research on the history of Omani Hajj, the documentation of the oral history of Hajj companies, and the establishment of a miniature Hajj museum at the next conference.
It also called for expediting the issuance of Umrah regulations to achieve full governance of the sector.
On the economic and investment front, the conference called for encouraging public-private partnerships to develop support services for pilgrims and Umrah performers, stimulating national investment in transportation, accommodation, and food, supporting Hajj companies with flexible financing programmes, developing smart solutions for electronic payments, and enhancing transparency in roaming service pricing to enable beneficiaries to choose the most appropriate service.
On the security and health front, the conference emphasised the need to ensure pilgrims' health status, ensure they receive the required vaccinations in accordance with approved requirements, raise awareness of infection prevention methods, ensure security and safety requirements in pilgrims' accommodations, and protect personal documents while performing Hajj rituals.
The 2nd Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, witnessed the participation of more than 60 government entities, the private sector, and Hajj and Umrah companies from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman.
The conference aimed to strengthen partnerships among all Hajj and Umrah partners inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman, provide opportunities for competition among service providers to the pilgrims from the Sultanate of Oman, encourage creativity and innovation in providing quality services to pilgrims, facilitate means of presenting services to pilgrims, and enhance the wealth of knowledge, history, documentation, science, culture, and Islamic law through the qualitative and diverse programmes that accompanied the conference and exhibition.
The Omani Hajj Mission announced the launch of a package of initiatives for the 1447 AH season, including the Omani Rabat House Endowments Initiative, worth approximately OMR 200,000, to support eligible social security recipients for the 1447 AH Hajj season. The initiative also aims to measure Hajj companies' readiness, which aims to ensure the highest standards of efficiency and quality and improve companies' performance. It also includes the "Aviation" and "Housing" initiatives.
It is noteworthy that during the conference and exhibition, several cooperation agreements were signed with several Islamic banks, such as Meethaq Islamic Banking, Bank Nizwa, Dhofar Islamic Bank, and Alizz Islamic Bank, to provide a package of banking services and facilities to the visitors from the Sultanate of Oman.
The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs also signed an agreement with Sohar Islamic for the initiative to provide financial support to 20 low-income beneficiaries.
