
Umrah 2025: Madinah's Prophet's Mosque rolls out toll-free multilingual guidance service
The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah unveiled a 24/7 toll-free cloud contact centre (8001111935), aimed at helping Umrah pilgrims and visitors with questions about worship rituals and guidance, all powered by a cloud-based system for faster, more reliable service.
The service launch, inaugurated by Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, underscores the Kingdom's commitment to merging tradition with innovation to deepen the spiritual experience at one of Islam's holiest sites.
TL;DR:
Prophet's Mosque in Madinah introduces a toll-free cloud call service for pilgrims, offering religious guidance in multiple languages.
Service aims to assist Umrah visitors with queries about rituals, prayer times, and mosque facilities.
The mosque, Islam's second holiest site, continues expanding digital initiatives to improve pilgrim experience.
What the new service offers
Dedicated support for worship-related inquiries, answered by scholars or trained staff promptly via the unified cloud centre.
Leveraging cloud technology, the service ensures real-time accessibility, operational resilience, and ease of management.
A foundational step in delivering institutional excellence, aligning with Saudi Arabia's digital transformation under Vision 2030.
The Prophet's Mosque: A brief overview
The Prophet's Mosque in Medina is the second holiest mosque and is revered as the burial place of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It also contains Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, an area considered as one of the gardens of Paradise, making it a highly sought-after place for prayer and reflection.
The mosque stands as a symbolic heart of Islamic history and devotion.
The mosque offers extensive visitor services, not just spiritual, but practical, including multilingual guidance desks, smart digital screens, wheelchair access, lost-and-found, and safe child care areas. These all mirror the mosque's historic role as both a sanctuary and a civic centre.
Why this matters
This development holds significant importance for several reasons.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
AI now helps people speak languages fast
Talkpal AI
Undo
By enhancing spiritual accessibility, it ensures that pilgrims from around the world can receive instant, accurate guidance, which is especially crucial when performing sacred rituals in a foreign environment. It also represents the digital elevation of tradition, as the cloud call centre demonstrates how modern technology can be used to honour and support centuries-old religious legacies.
Furthermore, it establishes a global service model that strengthens the mosque's reputation not only as a spiritual beacon but also as a thoughtful, forward-looking institution deeply committed to the care and comfort of worshippers.
The launch of the cloud call centre at the Prophet's Mosque is more than a tech upgrade, it's a compassionate nod to the modern pilgrim's needs. By offering spiritual guidance at the push of a button, the mosque deepens its legacy of care, ensuring that visitors find clarity, comfort, and connection on their sacred journey.
FAQ
1. What is the toll-free number?
8001111935 available around the clock for worship-related inquiries.
2. Who launched the service?
The service was inaugurated by Sheikh Dr.
Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the Religious Affairs administration.
3. What technology powers the service?
It runs on a cloud-based call centre, improving responsiveness, scalability, and operational efficiency.
4. What makes the Prophet's Mosque special?
It's the second-holiest site in Islam, containing the Prophet's tomb and the sacred Al-Rawdah, which holds deep religious significance.
5. What other pilgrim services are available at the mosque?
Services include multilingual guidance, childcare facilities, accessibility support, smart navigation tools, and spiritual education platforms.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
UAE: Etihad hits record 20.3 million passengers in 12 months for the first time
In 12 months, Etihad Airways transported 20.3 million passengers, driven by fleet growth to 111 aircraft and 81 destinations/Representative Image Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has achieved a major operational milestone, carrying over 20 million passengers in a 12-month span for the first time. The airline also posted strong growth in July 2025, supported by an expanding fleet and a broader destination network. Strong monthly and year-to-date growth Etihad Airways recorded a significant rise in passenger traffic in July 2025, flying 2.0 million passengers, a 19% increase from the 1.7 million carried during the same month in 2024. The airline's passenger load factor—a key metric indicating how efficiently an airline fills available seats—climbed to 90%, up one percentage point from 89% in July 2024. Over the first seven months of 2025, Etihad has transported 12.2 million passengers, reflecting a 17% year-on-year increase from the 10.4 million carried during the same period in 2024. The average load factor for the year so far has risen to 88%, compared to 86% in the equivalent period last year. These figures underscore steady and sustained demand across the airline's global network, contributing to its sharp rise in year-on-year performance. Milestone achievement: 12-month passenger record The airline's rolling 12-month passenger total has reached 20.3 million, crossing the 20 million mark for the first time in its history. This achievement places Etihad firmly among the fastest-growing carriers in the region. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Family Adopted A New 'Dog', But When The Vet Sees It He Calls The Police Undo Commenting on the milestone, Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, highlighted the strength of demand and the airline's ability to scale effectively. He noted the record July figures and emphasized the trust customers continue to place in the carrier's network and service offerings. Fleet growth and new aircraft deliveries Etihad's operating fleet now consists of 111 aircraft, up from 94 in July 2024. This includes aircraft under short-term ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) leases, and also freighter planes. In July 2025 alone, the airline added five new aircraft, marking it as a record acquisition month. The additions included: 2 Boeing 787s 1 Airbus A350-1000 1 Airbus A320 1 Airbus A321LR — the airline's first of this variant The induction of the A321LR is a significant step in Etihad's fleet strategy, expanding range and efficiency in medium-haul operations. These new aircraft support the airline's ongoing effort to enhance capacity and modernize its fleet while maintaining operational efficiency. Network expansion and destination growth Etihad has also continued to expand its global reach. As of July 2025, the airline now operates flights to 81 passenger destinations, up from 76 a year ago. The additional five destinations are a result of Etihad's active network development strategy, which aligns with its growing fleet size and market demand. This increase in destination count supports the overall upward trend in passenger numbers, offering more travel options across key markets in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and beyond.


Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Semiconductor push: Global chipmakers eye Indian partnerships amid rising pressures, Chinese competition; government incentives, market lure firms
AI image A rising number of overseas firms battling financial strain are seeking alliances with Indian companies to set up semiconductor manufacturing plants in the country, driven by generous state incentives, a vast domestic market and a large talent pool. As per ET, electronics major Sharp and US semiconductor producer Onsemi are among those exploring tie-ups, though both firms have not opened up about their plans yet. Industry observers say many of these companies are under pressure from aggressive Chinese rivals. 'Chinese companies are taking over spaces that Korean and Japanese firms dominated,' a source following the matter was quoted as saying by ET. 'For them, India offers a growing market. The potential of the Indian market that people have been looking at for two-three decades is now increasingly becoming a reality', the source added. The India Semiconductor Mission offers substantial financial aid for ventures in silicon semiconductor fabs, display fabs, compound semiconductors, sensors, packaging and chip design. This framework is creating a favourable environment for manufacturers grappling with high costs and sluggish demand elsewhere. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Click Here Undo Analysts believe that collaboration with Indian partners, backed by heavy government subsidies, is an appealing lifeline for such companies. Several projects are already in progress, with the government approving joint ventures between established and new players. These initiatives aim to produce chips for consumer electronics as well as specialised automotive and industrial uses. Danish Faruqui, chief executive of Fab Economics, was cited by ET saying that combining foreign technology with Indian financial backing could be 'lucrative for established players' struggling with operational shortcomings and a lack of capital to scale. However, experts caution that India must address gaps in trained manpower and technical skills to sustain this momentum. Faruqui noted that beyond capital and technology licences, 'trained talent and skill sets across a variety of functions' are vital for high-value chip production. He warned that other nations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East are also racing to develop their own semiconductor ecosystems, making it crucial for India to strengthen its foundations quickly. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .


Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Technology sector anchors 40% office leasing, as global enterprises expand India operations
Synopsis India's commercial office market thrives on large transactions, with deals exceeding 100,000 sq. ft. driving Grade A space uptake. The technology sector dominates leasing, fueled by GCC expansion and AI adoption. South India remains the epicenter, with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai attracting major occupiers, solidifying India's position as a preferred destination. Agencies Representative image Bengaluru: India's commercial office market continues to ride on the back of large-sized transactions, with deals over 100,000 sq. ft. driving the bulk of Grade A space uptake for the past five years. In the first half of 2025 (H1 2025), such transactions accounted for 51% of the total leasing activity across the top seven cities, translating into 17.2 million sq. ft., according to Colliers' latest report. This trend underscores occupiers' sustained appetite for high-quality, scalable office spaces aligned with their long-term growth the technology sector remains the leading driver of office space leasing in India with companies like Amazon, Qualcomm, Salesforce and TCS signing large floor plates Since 2020. In H1 2025 alone, tech occupiers took up more than 10 million sq. ft. of Grade A office space—nearly 40% of the total conventional leasing across the top seven cities. Leasing volumes for such deals in conventional office spaces grew from 6.4 million sq. ft. in 2023 to 8.7 million sq. ft. in 2024. Already, H1 2025 has clocked 6.2 million sq. ft. of large-sized tech leasing, signaling sustained expansion. This growth is being fuelled by the rapid expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), the adoption of artificial intelligence-led digital transformation, and long-term confidence in India's talent base and infrastructure, mentioned the report. Tech occupiers are also prominent players in the flexible workspace segment. The sector accounts for 40–50% of total flex space demand across the top seven cities. In IT hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, flexible work arrangements enable companies to optimize costs, maintain scalability, and attract top talent. While the overall occupier profile for flex spaces is diversifying, technology firms are expected to remain the dominant force, ensuring consistent demand in the years ahead.'The technology sector continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, even amid global uncertainties and workforce adjustments,' said Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director, Office Services, Colliers India. 'Since 2020, tech occupiers have leased close to 85 million sq. ft. of conventional office space across the top seven cities, accounting for the majority of large-sized transactions. In H1 2025 alone, the sector drove 43% of such deals. With GCC expansions and India's strong IT talent pool, we expect leasing momentum to remain strong through 2025.' South India remains the epicentre of technology leasing, with established hubs such as Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Whitefield in Bengaluru, SBD and Off-SBD in Hyderabad, and the OMR Zone in Chennai consistently attracting major occupiers. These micro-markets offer a combination of advantages—robust IT/ITeS ecosystems, superior connectivity, abundant talent pools in nearby residential catchments, competitive rentals, and the availability of large floor plates, it said. 'India's technology leasing continues to be concentrated in select high-performing IT hubs,' said Vimal Nadar, National Director and Head of Research, Colliers India. 'In H1 2025, ORR and Whitefield in Bengaluru, SBD and Off-SBD in Hyderabad, and OMR in Chennai together accounted for nearly half of India's total tech leasing. These hubs have set the pace for the country's office market. With ongoing AI adoption, cloud computing, and cybersecurity innovations, the tech sector could account for 40–50% of overall office space uptake in 2025.'The Indian IT industry is in the midst of a structural transformation. Global tech companies are increasingly expanding their India presence, not just for cost efficiency but to establish knowledge and innovation hubs that drive global operations. According to NASSCOM, the number of GCCs in India is projected to rise from around 1,800 today to over 2,400 by 2030, with revenues expected to exceed $ 100 IT firms, meanwhile, are evolving their service offerings as artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, and cloud technologies become deeply embedded in the industry's operational fabric. This evolution is redefining real estate requirements for the sector. From traditional large office setups to hybrid and flex models, the configuration of tech workplaces is shifting to accommodate new ways of working, enhanced collaboration, and global delivery coming years are expected to be pivotal. As global enterprises double down on their India strategies and domestic players scale up capabilities, demand for high-quality Grade A office space will remain robust. The synergy of cost advantages, a vast and skilled workforce, policy support, and world-class office infrastructure positions India as a preferred destination for technology the first half of 2025 is any indication, the technology sector's dominance in India's office leasing market is far from waning. With large-sized deals continuing to anchor leasing momentum and innovation hubs expanding at a rapid pace, the sector looks set to remain the cornerstone of India's commercial real estate growth story for years to come.