In a significant diplomatic and religious engagement, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, addressed the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies during his official visit to the United Kingdom.
His presentation highlighted the Kingdom’s transformative initiatives aimed at enhancing the pilgrimage experience for Muslims worldwide, aligning with the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Dr. Al-Rabiah emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to facilitating seamless and spiritually enriching journeys for pilgrims. Central to this commitment is the introduction of “Nusuk,” a unified digital platform launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Nusuk enables pilgrims to plan and book their visits to Makkah and Madinah, streamlining processes that were previously complex and time-consuming.
The minister noted that the United Kingdom holds a special place in Saudi Arabia’s outreach, being home to over three million Muslims. He stated, “The UK is one of the most important regions for us as we embark on our journey to enrich and enable the spiritual and beautiful experience of Umrah for Muslims across the globe.”
Under Dr. Al-Rabiah’s leadership, the Ministry has implemented several reforms to make the holy cities more accessible. These include lifting COVID-19 and age restrictions, extending the duration of Umrah visas from 30 to 90 days, and removing the requirement for a male guardian for female pilgrims.
Furthermore, the Kingdom has invested heavily in infrastructure to support the increasing number of pilgrims. Projects such as the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Haramain High-Speed Railway, and improvements to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah are part of a broader strategy to accommodate the anticipated rise in pilgrim numbers, aiming to host 30 million Umrah pilgrims annually by 2030.
Dr. Al-Rabiah’s address at the Oxford Centre underscores Saudi Arabia’s dedication to blending tradition with innovation, ensuring that the spiritual journey of Hajj and Umrah remains profound and accessible for Muslims worldwide.
