Makkah — The Makkah Chamber of Commerce recently received His Excellency Dr. Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, in a gathering with the city’s entrepreneurial community to deepen cooperation aimed at improving services for the Guests of Allah.
Dr. Mashat used the meeting as an opportunity to engage business owners, innovators and service providers, urging them to partner with government agencies to enhance pilgrim experience—from arrival logistics, transport, hospitality, to digital and health support. The collaboration, he emphasised, is part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to transform Hajj and Umrah work into more efficient, technology‑driven services.
Entrepreneurs present discussed ideas such as expanding multilingual assistance, improving mobile medical services, leveraging apps for better pilgrim guidance, and integrating local businesses in areas like catering, accommodation and transport. They also explored how to streamline service delivery so that visitors can focus fully on their rituals with comfort and dignity.
Representatives of the Chamber affirmed their readiness to contribute creatively and financially, proposing joint initiatives with the Ministry to pilot small‑scale projects ahead of the next peak pilgrimage seasons. Dr. Mashat pledged that tenders, contracts and approvals will be made more accessible to entrepreneurs who can show innovation, good service standards, and readiness to work under regulatory oversight.
By the end of the session, both sides agreed to set up a task force—drawing from the private sector, tech experts, and local authorities—to map out a roadmap of deliverables starting with digital enhancement, health infrastructure, and transport improvement. The aim is to ensure that the services provided to pilgrims are seamless, safe, and reflect the dignity owed the Guests of Allah at every touchpoint.