HRH Governor of Madinah Province inaugurates second edition of Umrah and Ziyarah Forum
Madinah - His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Madinah Province, inaugurated the second edition of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum, organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in partnership with the Guests of Rahman Service Program.
In his opening address, the Governor of Madinah emphasized that Madinah shared with Makkah the revelation of divine guidance, and from it emerged the civilization of Islam, the spirit of peace, and the teachings of our noble religion. He noted that the Prophet's Mosque is undergoing a developmental phase for its architecture and surrounding historical sites to strengthen visitors' connection to the Prophet's biography, reflecting the Kingdom's humanitarian message based on the Islamic religion, authentic Arab culture, and deep human values laden with peace to enhance humanitarian concepts, enrich the experience of the Guests of Rahman, and exemplify Saudi Vision 2030.
The world's premier event in the Umrah and Ziyarah services sector, with broad participation from decision-makers, service providers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and sectors related to Umrah and Ziyarah from around the globe, will continue for three days from the 14th to 16th of April 2025, at the King Salman International Conference Centre in Madinah. This global participation reflects the Kingdom's commitment to enhancing the visitor experience and stimulating investments in this vital sector.
His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, confirmed that the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum enjoys the patronage and attention of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This continuous support from the highest levels of Saudi leadership is a testament to their commitment to the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.
His Excellency added: "Since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the number of Umrah performers and visitors has reached more than 128 million from various countries around the world, and Madinah has attained an advanced position in the index of the best global destinations for 2024. Through this forum, we seek to empower and facilitate the journey of the Guests of Rahman through collaboration with innovators and developers in the sector and enhance the comprehensive experience for Umrah performers and visitors."
The exhibition accompanying the forum witnessed a tour by His Excellency the Minister, who met several exhibiting entities from more than 70 countries that exceeded 100. The event is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors amid a 30% growth in the Umrah sector in the last quarter of 2024.
This year's edition features dialogue sessions and specialized discussions covering technology, healthcare, and transportation services. The forum is an ideal opportunity for all concerned parties working in Umrah and Ziyarah services to connect with partners and exchange expertise, improving the quality of services provided to Rahman's guests.
The first day featured several interactive workshops, including one on using emerging technologies to enrich the visitor and Umrah performer experience and another on employing social media to enhance and educate the Guest of Rahman.
This year's Umrah and Ziyarah Forum is made possible by the generous support of our elite sponsors and partners. These include the official partner 'Rua Al Madinah Holding,' strategic sponsors' Elm,' 'Madinah Region Development Authority,' 'Supreme Authority for Hajj and Umrah,' 'Awqaf,' 'Al Rajhi,' 'Tasheer,' and 'Knowledge Economic City,' digital enablement partner 'Saudi Telecom Company,' insurance sponsor' Al Tawuniya,' platinum sponsors' Saudi Tourism Authority,' 'Saudi Railways,' and 'Makarem,' gold sponsor 'Mövenpick,' silver sponsor' Jabal Omar,' badge sponsor' Ethraa Al-Nusuk,' bronze sponsor' Manasiki,' knowledge partner 'Safa,' and knowledge and innovation partners' Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz University,' 'Umm Al-Qura University,' 'Global Innovation Entrepreneurship,' and 'Islamic University of Madinah,' transportation partners' Jawla' and 'Huda Al-Hijaz,' experience partner' General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque,' cultural partner' Royal Institute of Traditional Arts,' and emergency medical response partner' Ministry of Defense Health Services.'
The forum is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors, including major investors, decision-makers, and experts in the Umrah travel sector, as well as representatives from government agencies, diplomatic missions, non-profit organizations, media outlets, entrepreneurs, innovators, and specialists in the sector.
About the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum
The Umrah and Ziyarah Forum, a platform that brings together decision-makers, experts, and innovators from various fields related to Umrah and Ziyarah, has made significant strides in the past. The 2024 edition of the forum, for instance, hosted six dialogue sessions and six focused discussion groups, with 42 speakers participating. These sessions and discussions have led to exchanging valuable insights and developing innovative solutions, contributing to enhancing the Umrah and Ziyarah experience.
About Tahaluf
Tahaluf, based in Riyadh, links strategically important business communities in Saudi Arabia and their counterparts throughout the Gulf region and the world through a leading portfolio comprising some of the world's most important exhibitions and digital platforms. The company was established as a joint venture between Informa, the world's largest organizer of commercial events; the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones; and the Events Investment Fund. Sela, a Saudi government-owned company specializing in producing spectacular events, intends to join the joint venture soon.
In 2024, Tahaluf took responsibility for organizing the award-winning technology events LEAP and DeepFest, as well as FinTech 24, Global Health Exhibition, Cityscape Global, Black Hat Middle East and Africa, and CBHI Exhibition.
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