From Makkah to the World: Jeddah Launches Sixth Hajj Conference to Sharpen 2027 Readiness
Driving the news: Saudi Arabia opened the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah on Sunday. The four-day event launches early preparations for the 2027 Hajj season and runs under the slogan “From Makkah to the World.” More than 520 entities from inside and outside the Kingdom are taking part, and participants represent more than 150 countries.
Why it matters: The conference puts the whole pilgrim-service chain under one roof. Transport, housing, catering, healthcare and technology providers meet Hajj affairs offices face to face. As a result, they can finalize contracts and arrangements months before the pilgrims arrive.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz patronizes the event. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah organizes it in cooperation with the Pilgrim Experience Program, a Vision 2030 initiative. Hajj affairs offices, service providers and related bodies all take part.
An Early Start to the 2027 Season
The conference has a clear mission. It helps the parties complete the arrangements, procedures and contracts the next season requires. Moreover, delegates can review the latest solutions and services on offer.
The program runs along three main tracks:
- Infrastructure and operational services.
- Empowerment and integration.
- Development and sustainability.
Sessions cover transport and logistics, infrastructure and facilities management, housing and hospitality, catering, security and safety, and healthcare. They also address media, technology, innovation, training and crowd management.
Zoom in: The organizers build on a strong recent record. At last year’s edition, Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah described the 1446 AH season as the best in 50 years, according to Saudi media. He also said the Nusuk app had passed 40 million users worldwide and announced an AI feature called “Nusuk AI.” That feature gives pilgrims instant guidance and information during their journey.
32 Sessions and a First-of-Its-Kind Training Forum
The “Hajj Council” offers 32 sessions with 42 speakers. The sessions combine practical and research topics. They aim to improve the pilgrim-service system, raise operational efficiency and enrich the experience of the Guests of Allah.
This year also brings a first. The new Awareness and Training Forum runs under the slogan “From Awareness to Empowerment.” Through programs, workshops and hands-on experiences, it seeks to develop awareness tools and raise training quality. It also prepares workers across the sector.
Training has already proved popular. The previous edition hosted 134 sessions and workshops, and more than 2,600 trainees took part.
By the numbers:
- 520+: entities taking part, drawn from government, private and non-profit sectors.
- 150+: countries represented.
- 67,000+ sq m: exhibition space, roughly 29% larger than the 52,000 sq m organizers announced for last year’s edition.
- 4 days: 8 to 11 November, 2026.
- 15+: specialized programs and zones.
- 3: main program tracks.
- 32: “Hajj Council” sessions.
- 42: speakers.
- 204,000+: visitors at the previous edition, about 70% more than the roughly 120,000 at the one before.
- 270: exhibitors at the previous edition.
Innovation Takes Center Stage
Technology drives much of the agenda. A specialized innovation zone sits alongside the “Future of Hajj Innovations” camp. The “Technology Oasis” and the Hajj innovations exhibition complete the line-up. Together, they showcase new ways to improve services and raise operational efficiency.
In parallel, a business center offers meeting space for contract talks and signing ceremonies. Specialized zones cover aviation, health, technology and media. Furthermore, a “Made in Saudi” zone and a partners platform widen cooperation among participants. Their purpose is to turn ideas and innovations into services that work on the ground.
The big picture: The conference serves as an international platform for everyone involved in Hajj. Participants swap expertise and speed up preparations for the coming season. In doing so, they support the Kingdom’s efforts to improve services for pilgrims, from the first day of trip planning to their departure after the rites.
The event also has a track record of producing results. The third edition, for example, announced Hajj agreements with 76 countries, according to Arab News.
What’s next: The conference runs until 11 November. Expect agreements and contracts to take shape in the business center over the coming days. Afterwards, Hajj affairs offices and service providers will carry the momentum into the detailed preparations for the 1448 AH season.
