JEDDAH: is working to humanize Makkah and Madinah to enhance the experience of pilgrims and worshippers, according to Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid Al-Hogail.
on the sidelines of the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition, held under the theme “From Makkah to the World,” Al-Hogail said the municipal sector is no longer limited to providing basic services, but now focuses on enriching the urban experience of pilgrims and visitors.
This includes by harnessing modern technologies and developing projects that improve quality of life.
“Today, when a pilgrim visits Madinah, they want to experience the spiritual atmosphere of Mount Uhud and visit Wadi Al-Aqiq, Quba Mosque, and the Qiblatain Mosque. These sites represent a spiritual and historical journey that we seek to make a comprehensive and seamless experience,” he said.
The minister explained that the ministry is humanizing cities by improving the urban environment and infrastructure to make them more interactive and comfortable for residents and visitors.
This transformation, he added, represents the first pillar of the municipal sector’s strategy, which focuses on facilitating mobility and traffic and improving municipal services through roads, bridges, and tunnels to ensure smooth movement for pilgrims and worshippers.
welcomed 1.67 million pilgrims during the 1446 Hajj season, including 1.5 million from outside the Kingdom — 90 percent of the total — and 166,000 domestic pilgrims, making up the remaining 10 percent, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
In August, the authority also reported that the total number of Umrah performers during the first quarter of 2025 reached 15 million, with Saudis accounting for 24 percent. The number of international pilgrims stood at 6.5 million, up 10.7 percent compared with the same period in 2024.
Statistics further showed that Madinah received 6.4 million visitors during the first quarter of 2025, including 4.4 million from abroad.
Al-Hogail noted that the municipal sector has shifted from individual efforts to an institutional approach based on smart planning and technology use.
He said the ministry has established a modern municipal system that provides fast and secure services for pilgrims, ensuring their safety and the quality of their surroundings.
The minister added that digital transformation has become a central element in managing Hajj services.
“Today, pilgrims no longer need to inquire or visit in person; through smart applications such as the Ministry of Hajj app or the Balady app, they can plan their journeys and track their needs digitally,” Al-Hogail said.
He confirmed that the ministry has already begun employing artificial intelligence to analyze large volumes of data related to the pilgrims’ journey, with the aim of enhancing service efficiency and improving the overall experience of travelers from arrival to departure.
