Hajj and Umrah Conference returns to enrich religious, cultural experiences

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Pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat during Hajj, near the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, July 2022. (Reuters)
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Minister of Hajj and Umrah for Saudi Arabia Tawfig F. AlRabiah. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Updated 15 December 2022
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Hajj and Umrah Conference returns to enrich religious, cultural experiences

  • Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Expo Hajj 2023 will bring together decision-makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers under one roof in Jeddah
  • Conference will involve discussions on pilgrim services, aiming to enhance the quality of pilgrimages while enriching the religious and cultural experiences of visitors

JEDDAH: The Kingdom is set to host a conference and exhibition for Hajj and Umrah services aimed at improving the pilgrim experience at the Two Holy Mosques.

Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Expo Hajj 2023 will bring together decision-makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers under one roof in Jeddah at the beginning of January next year.

The conference will involve discussions on pilgrim services, aiming to enhance the quality of pilgrimages while enriching the religious and cultural experiences of visitors. It comes as part of the Pilgrim Experience Program, a pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Featuring a range of schemes and initiatives within the Hajj and Umrah sectors, several workshops will also be held to discuss activities through which the ministry seeks to achieve excellence and sustainability in serving pilgrims.

The conference will also present proposals for future projects to develop infrastructure and technical solutions, as well as rehabilitate religious sites and historical monuments.

On the sidelines of the conference, events and activities will take place in the presence of ministers of Islamic affairs, endowments, and Hajj, ambassadors and consuls in Saudi Arabia, in addition to pilgrim agency officials from the public and private sectors.

Expo Hajj 2023 will also target digital transformation and technology upgrades as a key focus of discussions, enabling investors to build strategic partnerships with stakeholders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

To register and take part in the conference, visit hajjumrahforum.com


National wildlife center launches training program for rangers

Updated 57 min 16 sec ago
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National wildlife center launches training program for rangers

RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife has launched a new training program to improve rangers’ skills in capturing, transporting and monitoring animals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The program starts with “proper wildlife handling during transport, progressing through capture methods and post-release monitoring, and concluding with the evaluation of designated release sites,” the center said.

Its goal is to unify procedures for wildlife translocation and release, strengthen ranger readiness, ensure the environmental and administrative suitability of release sites, and enhance the overall efficiency of field implementation, the report said.

The training included visits to the King Khalid Wildlife Research Center, which is equipped with a veterinary clinic and laboratories, as well as a number of hands-on exercises.

The NCW said the program was part of its ongoing efforts to build specialized national competencies in wildlife management, reinforce reintroduction programs, safeguard biodiversity and contribute to more effective reserve management and the achievement of the Kingdom’s environmental sustainability goals.