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Researchers in the Service of the Guests of Allah Award – Second Edition

Researchers in the Service of the Guests of Allah Award – Second Edition

Towards research-driven innovation that enriches the pilgrim and Umrah performer experience

About the Award

As part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to enhance Hajj and Umrah services and achieve Vision 2030 goals, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, has launched the second edition of the “Researchers in the Service of the Guests of Allah” Award under the theme:
“Towards Research Innovation that Enriches the Pilgrim and Umrah Experience.”
The award promotes applied research and bridges academic knowledge with real-world challenges. It encourages higher education students and researchers to propose innovative solutions that enhance the experience of the Guests of Allah and improve service quality. The award covers eight strategic tracks, including digital transformation, sustainability, safety, healthcare services, transportation, economy, and digital governance.

Cultural Attachés

United States of America and includes

(United States and Canada)

United Kingdom and includes

(United Kingdom and Ireland)

Australia and includes

(Australia and New Zealand)

Germany and includes
(Germany, France, and Switzerland)

Importance of the Award

The “Researchers in Service of the Guests of Allah” Award reflects the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s commitment, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, to strengthening the role of applied scientific research in developing the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem and transforming academic knowledge into practical solutions that directly enhance the pilgrim experience.
The award serves as a national platform connecting academic ambition with real-world needs, linking universities and research centers with executive entities to ensure research efforts address actual challenges and strategic opportunities. It also acts as a key driver of innovation, encouraging students and researchers to present impactful, sustainable projects aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and reinforcing the Kingdom’s global leadership in crowd management and high-quality, human-centered pilgrimage services.

Enhancing research collaboration between global universities and Saudi institutions

Creating an interactive platform for Saudi scholarship students to contribute to the development of the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem

Benefiting from the diversity of research schools and practical methodologies

Transferring best practices in the fields of technology and innovation

Strategic Objectives of the Award

Enhancing integration between educational institutions and field practices
Investing national research capabilities to serve the Hajj and Umrah sector
Linking university outputs with the priorities of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
Stimulating applied innovation in pilgrim services
Supporting the sustainability of institutional excellence in the Kingdom within Vision 2030

Main Pillars of the Award

Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence

Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence

This pillar aims to support digital transformation in the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem through smart technological solutions that enhance efficiency and ease of access to services. This includes the use of artificial intelligence, automation, instant translation, robotics, virtual reality, and smart guidance systems, with the goal of improving crowd management, communicating with pilgrims in multiple languages, and providing instant interactive services.

Community Excellence in Serving Pilgrims and Umrah Performers

Community Excellence in Serving Pilgrims and Umrah Performers

This pillar focuses on humanitarian and social non-technical initiatives that enhance the experience of the Guests of Allah through awareness, guidance, quality field interaction, and community empowerment. This includes developing specialized services for sensitive groups (elderly, people with disabilities), enabling volunteers, designing cultural programs that enhance diversity and belonging, and providing personalized services that accommodate the individual needs of pilgrims.

Environmental Sustainability in the Holy Sites

Environmental Sustainability in the Holy Sites

This pillar aims to create eco-friendly solutions that help reduce the environmental impact of the Hajj and Umrah seasons. It includes innovations in renewable energy use, water and electricity conservation, improved waste management, and the application of resource recycling technologies in the holy sites, enhancing the balance between services provided and environmental preservation.

Crowd Management and Public Safety

Crowd Management and Public Safety

This pillar focuses on developing smart systems that ensure the safety of pilgrims and efficient crowd management across all sites. This includes predictive and intelligent distribution technologies, early warning systems, route control, emergency and rapid response solutions, and field data analysis to enhance decision-making speed during operations.

Health and Preventive Services

Health and Preventive Services

This pillar aims to innovate solutions in digital health and preventive care to ensure the safety of pilgrims. It includes developing platforms for health monitoring, early detection, infection management, providing mobile medical services, and offering digital medical consultations, while enhancing emergency health preparedness.

Logistics and Smart Transportation

Logistics and Smart Transportation

This pillar focuses on developing innovative solutions that facilitate the organized and safe movement of pilgrims. It includes luggage tracking technologies, improving transportation services between holy sites, temporary accommodation solutions, supply chain management, and the use of smart transportation systems to reduce congestion and enhance the field experience.

Teras ini memberi tumpuan kepada pembangunan penyelesaian inovatif yang memudahkan pergerakan jemaah secara teratur dan selamat. Ia merangkumi teknologi penjejakan bagasi, peningkatan perkhidmatan pengangkutan antara tapak suci, penyelesaian penginapan sementara, pengurusan rantaian bekalan, dan penggunaan sistem pengangkutan pintar untuk mengurangkan kesesakan serta meningkatkan pengalaman di lapangan.

Teras ini memberi tumpuan kepada pembangunan penyelesaian inovatif yang memudahkan pergerakan jemaah secara teratur dan selamat. Ia merangkumi teknologi penjejakan bagasi, peningkatan perkhidmatan pengangkutan antara tapak suci, penyelesaian penginapan sementara, pengurusan rantaian bekalan, dan penggunaan sistem pengangkutan pintar untuk mengurangkan kesesakan serta meningkatkan pengalaman di lapangan.

This pillar aims to innovate business models and support services that enhance financial sustainability and improve the pilgrim experience. It includes developing secure payment systems, suitable insurance services for pilgrims, activating the role of the non-profit sector and volunteers, and creating new funding opportunities for innovative services.

Data Governance and Institutional Integration

Data Governance and Institutional Integration

This pillar addresses challenges related to data security and system integration across different entities. It includes developing a digital infrastructure that ensures privacy, activating data exchange between governmental and service entities to enhance coordination and service delivery speed, while ensuring compliance with national digital transformation policies.

Award Timeline

Submission of detailed project documentation

A prototype or demonstration of the idea

An implementation plan and timeline