Al-Riyadh Newspaper, June 13, 2025: Management of Hajj, Kingdom’s Commitment to Sustainability, Significant Role of Saudi Women

The sources offer a comprehensive look at Saudi Arabia’s efforts and achievements across various sectors, particularly focusing on the management and evolution of the Hajj pilgrimage. Several articles highlight the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability through innovative environmental technologies and robust transportation systems, alongside its humanitarian response capabilities during large gatherings. The texts also illuminate the significant role of Saudi women in organizing and supporting the Hajj, emphasizing their increasing empowerment within society. Furthermore, the collection provides historical context for the Hajj, showcasing the transformation of the journey from arduous treks to modern, well-organized experiences, and presents a biographical sketch of Mohammed Al-Harkan, a key figure in the Saudi justice system. Finally, the sources touch upon Saudi Arabia’s broader ambitions, including its economic diversification into space industries and sports, underscoring a vision for future growth and global leadership.

Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Management: A Global Model

Hajj management by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized by efficiency, foresight, and a comprehensive approach aimed at ensuring the safety, comfort, and spiritual fulfillment of millions of pilgrims. This endeavor is not merely a religious gathering but a major humanitarian, developmental, security, and technological project, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to its Islamic message and its responsibility towards the Muslim world. The success of Hajj management is a recurring and distinct feature, not just a fleeting accomplishment.

Here are the key aspects of Hajj management:

• Visionary Leadership and Oversight The success of Hajj is a direct result of the wise leadership and continuous follow-up by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Crown Prince’s personal supervision and monitoring of all Hajj plans and their minute details underscore the leadership’s dedication to ensuring the utmost comfort and tranquility for pilgrims. This commitment is seen as a national and supreme priority.
• Comprehensive Planning and Coordination Hajj preparations begin a full year in advance, involving coordination plans among over 20 government agencies. This meticulous planning, including setting objectives, allocating resources, and managing risks, is crucial for handling millions of pilgrims within a limited geographical area and a few days. Agencies involved include the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ministry of Interior, health authorities, and security sectors, working in seamless integration.
• Advanced Technological Integration and Digital Transformation The Kingdom has transformed Hajj management into a digitally managed event, making it a global model in logistics, crowd management, safety, and cultural diversity.
• Smart Hajj Card: A digital card containing pilgrims’ personal, health, and logistical information, facilitating access to various services, managing crowds, and reducing errors.
• “Nusuk” Platform and Smart Applications: Electronic platforms like “Nusuk” allow pilgrims to book services, access linguistic support, religious guidance, and location-based information (e.g., health centers, rest areas).
• AI and Big Data: Artificial intelligence and big data are utilized to analyze movement, predict congestion, and manage crowd distribution with precise schedules.
• Surveillance Systems: Smart cameras, drones, and geographical tracking systems monitor pilgrim movement, manage entry/exit points, and provide rapid support in emergencies.
• Health Services: Digital health records for each pilgrim, telemedicine, and swift emergency response are part of the advanced health services.
• Internet Access: Free internet access is provided to millions of pilgrims to communicate with their families and access information and guidance services.
• Electronic Payment: Facilitating electronic payments reduces the use of cash, enhancing financial security.
• “No Hajj Without a Permit” Campaign: This national awareness and regulatory campaign ensures that no one performs Hajj without an official permit, aiming to regulate pilgrim movement, prevent overcrowding, and ensure safety and ease. This initiative prevents chaotic practices, ensuring orderly and comfortable performance of rituals for all pilgrims.
• Robust Logistics and Infrastructure Massive investments have been made in expanding and modernizing infrastructure in the Holy Sites.
• Transportation: Over 20,000 buses are deployed, along with modern electric train networks like the Mashaer Railway, which can transport 300,000 pilgrims per hour, significantly reducing congestion and emissions. The “Makkah Route Initiative” in cooperation with 8 countries streamlines pilgrims’ entry procedures at their home country airports, transporting them directly to their accommodations in Mecca and Medina.
• Accommodation: Over 355,000 hotel rooms meeting high standards are available to ensure pilgrim comfort and tranquility.
• Mina Development: The development projects in Mina, including air-conditioned tents and facilities, and the expansion of the Jamarat Bridge across four levels, allow 300,000 pilgrims to complete the ritual in one hour.
• Comprehensive Health and Safety Measures The Kingdom prioritizes pilgrims’ health and safety with a comprehensive medical system and proactive measures.
• Medical Facilities: 25 hospitals and 156 health centers are operational in Mecca, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Medina, equipped with over 5,000 beds, including 1,300 intensive care beds and 700 emergency beds.
• Medical Personnel: Over 32,000 qualified medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, are trained for specific Hajj conditions like heat stroke and infectious diseases.
• Preventive Care: Mobile medical teams provide examinations, vaccinations, and primary treatments. Emergency services include a fleet of ambulances and medical evacuation aircraft for rapid interventions.
• Cooling Technologies: Initiatives like cooling asphalt surfaces in Mecca and the Holy Sites reduce temperatures by 15-20 degrees Celsius, enhancing pilgrim comfort and reducing energy consumption. The use of misting fans by volunteers also aids in cooling.
• Zero Epidemic Injuries: The Hajj season achieved a “zero epidemic injuries” record, reflecting the robust health efforts and high awareness among pilgrims.
• Environmental Sustainability (“Green Hajj”) Under Vision 2030, Hajj is transforming into a global model for environmental sustainability.
• Renewable Energy: Efforts include utilizing solar energy for operating camps and health facilities. An expert noted that designing covered umbrellas with flexible solar cells could provide shade and generate clean energy.
• Sustainable Transportation: The Mashaer Railway operates entirely on electricity, significantly reducing harmful gas emissions and congestion. Electric buses and potentially even electric air taxis are being introduced.
• Waste Management: Advanced methods like recycling and bio-decomposition are used for managing the massive waste generated. Innovative technologies are being developed to convert food waste into organic fertilizer. Smart applications and sensor-equipped containers are planned for real-time waste tracking and processing.
• Environmental Awareness: Pilgrims are educated on environmental concepts and encouraged to participate in green behaviors like waste sorting.
• Humanitarian and Cultural Focus Hajj is seen as a civilizational project expressing peace, organization, human coexistence, and dignity.
• Pilgrim Dignity: Ensuring a safe and comfortable environment, providing free healthcare, and respectful treatment by all staff, regardless of pilgrims’ language, color, or nationality, are core values.
• Cultural Diversity: Hajj brings together millions from over 180 nationalities. The Kingdom successfully manages this diversity by respecting privacy, using multi-language translations for sermons, guidance, and informational materials, and deploying volunteers and translators.
• Women’s Pivotal Role: Saudi women play an increasingly active and vital role in Hajj management, participating in various sectors including guidance, awareness, healthcare, and logistics. Their presence in the field adds a significant human and professional dimension, especially in interacting with female pilgrims.
• Volunteerism: Saudi youth contribute significantly to Hajj through various voluntary efforts, providing medical care, organizing crowds, and assisting pilgrims, demonstrating the Kingdom’s commitment to serving pilgrims.
• Historical Context Serving the Two Holy Mosques has been a core project and sovereign responsibility of the Saudi state since its establishment in the mid-12th century Hijri (18th century CE). Historically, the journey to Hajj was arduous and time-consuming, often taking months, involving travel by camels and unpaved roads. The advent of cars reduced travel time significantly, and today, organized travel by air-conditioned buses and planes has made Hajj a smooth and comfortable experience. The continuous expansion and modernization of the Two Holy Mosques have been central to this historical commitment.

The continuous success of Hajj management, year after year, underscores the Kingdom’s competence and dedication in serving pilgrims. It has become a global model for large-scale human gatherings, recognized by international organizations and media outlets for its efficiency, technological innovation, and humanitarian values.

Saudi Arabia’s Sustainable Hajj Vision 2030

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing sustainable initiatives in Hajj management, aiming to transform it into a global model for environmental sustainability under the ambitious Vision 2030. This commitment integrates deeply with national priorities for development. The approach to Hajj sustainability is not merely an optional environmental measure but a necessity that blends religious values with modern technologies.

Here are the key aspects of these sustainable initiatives:

• Holistic Vision for a Sustainable Hajj:
• The Hajj season, with its annual influx of millions of pilgrims from diverse nations, presents significant environmental and infrastructural challenges. The Kingdom’s vision for a sustainable Hajj comprehensively covers environmental, technical/administrative, and behavioral/cultural dimensions.
• It emphasizes the ethical dimension of sustainability, framing the preservation of the Holy Sites’ resources as a religious responsibility aligned with Islamic teachings against wastefulness and for earth’s stewardship. Sustainable behavior during Hajj is viewed as an act of worship, transforming environmental awareness from a mere commitment into a conscious act of devotion.
• The Hajj is seen as a global model for balancing religion and technology, holiness and clean energy.
• Environmental Sustainability Efforts:
• Reducing Emissions and Pollution: Efforts are focused on lessening pollution in air and water by reducing harmful emissions.
• Advanced Waste Management: The immense waste generated in the Holy Sites is managed through advanced methods such as recycling and bio-decomposition. Plans include using smart applications and sensor-equipped containers for real-time waste tracking and processing, with an aim to transition towards a circular economy. Innovations like devices that convert food waste into organic fertilizer (200 kg of food waste to 10% fertilizer in 12-18 hours) have been piloted in “model camps”.
• Protecting Natural Areas: Initiatives include safeguarding the natural areas and geological environment of Makkah and the Holy Sites.
• Technological and Administrative Sustainability:
• Solar Energy Utilization: There is a significant focus on deploying solar energy to power camps and health facilities in Arafat, Mina, and Muzdalifah, providing clean energy for vital services and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Experts highlight Makkah’s climate as ideal for solar energy production due to continuous sunlight, proposing innovative solutions like covered umbrellas with flexible solar cells that provide shade and generate clean energy.
• Smart Hajj and AI Integration: Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) are employed for crowd management and emergency response.
• Sustainable Transportation Systems: The Mashaer Railway operates entirely on electricity, significantly reducing harmful gas emissions and congestion. The introduction of electric buses and even a trial of an electric air taxi during the 1445H (2024) season marks a commitment to low-emission transport. These initiatives aim to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and improve pilgrim flow.
• Behavioral and Cultural Sustainability:
• Pilgrim Environmental Awareness: Efforts include educating pilgrims in multiple languages about environmental concepts and encouraging participation in green behaviors like waste sorting. This aims to embed concepts of belonging and environmental responsibility, transforming the individual worship experience into a collective behavior.
• Integrating Sustainability in Religious Discourse: Concepts of sustainability are being incorporated into sermons, rituals, and informational materials.
• Impactful Initiatives and Projects:
• Makkah Smart and Sustainable Project: This project involves a digital infrastructure relying on renewable energy to reduce costs and emissions.
• Cooling Asphalt Surfaces Initiative: To combat high temperatures, a special paint made from local materials is used on asphalt surfaces in Makkah and the Holy Sites (including Arafat, Mina, and Muzdalifah). This technology reduces heat absorption and effectively lowers road temperatures by 15-20 degrees Celsius, enhancing pilgrim comfort, reducing reliance on artificial cooling, and decreasing indirect carbon emissions from air conditioning. This initiative also aims to improve air quality.
• “Ihram Sustainable” Initiative: This project successfully collected 50 tons of ihrams and 300,000 pillows during the 1445H Hajj season, representing a significant environmental achievement in textile management.
• Waste Removal by Holy Capital Municipality: The municipality removed over 87,500 tons of waste in one season, showcasing coordinated institutional efforts to protect the environment.
• Challenges and Future Outlook:
• Despite significant progress, challenges remain, such as multi-agency coordination and ensuring suppliers adhere to sustainability standards.
• The Kingdom plans to further expand renewable energy integration to all temporary and permanent facilities and incentivize local innovation for smart, religiously- and technologically-aligned solutions.
• The ultimate goal is to make the Hajj a perfectly sustainable and environmentally balanced experience for future generations.

These ongoing efforts under Vision 2030 position the Holy Sites as a model for environmental sustainability, demonstrating the Kingdom’s commitment to both serving pilgrims and preserving the environment.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: A Transformative National Roadmap

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 serves as a comprehensive roadmap for national development, aiming to diversify and grow national income sources beyond oil. This vision places a strong emphasis on sustainability and has profoundly transformed various sectors, including Hajj management, industrial development, women’s empowerment, and the emerging space economy.

1. Hajj Management: A Global Model for Sustainability and Efficiency

Under Vision 2030, Hajj management is being transformed into a global model for environmental sustainability. This commitment is not merely an optional measure but a necessity that integrates religious values with modern technologies.

• Holistic Approach to Sustainability: The vision for a sustainable Hajj encompasses environmental, technical/administrative, and behavioral/cultural dimensions. It frames the preservation of Holy Sites’ resources as a religious responsibility, aligning with Islamic teachings against wastefulness and for earth’s stewardship, turning environmental awareness into a conscious act of devotion.
• Environmental Initiatives:Waste Management: Advanced methods like recycling and bio-decomposition are employed for the immense waste generated. Plans include using smart applications and sensor-equipped containers for real-time waste tracking, moving towards a circular economy. Innovations like devices that convert food waste into organic fertilizer have been piloted in “model camps”.
• Pollution Reduction: Efforts focus on lessening air and water pollution by reducing harmful emissions.
• Natural Area Protection: Safeguarding the natural and geological environment of Makkah and the Holy Sites is a key initiative.
• Technological and Administrative Advancements:Renewable Energy: Significant focus is placed on deploying solar energy to power camps and health facilities in Arafat, Mina, and Muzdalifah, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Experts highlight Makkah’s climate as ideal for solar energy, proposing innovative solutions like covered umbrellas with flexible solar cells that provide shade and generate clean energy.
• Smart Hajj and AI Integration: Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are utilized for crowd management and emergency response. Smart Hajj cards carry personal and health information to streamline services.
• Sustainable Transportation: The Mashaer Railway operates entirely on electricity, significantly reducing harmful gas emissions and congestion. The introduction of electric buses and even a trial of an electric air taxi during the 1445H (2024) season underscores the commitment to low-emission transport.
• Cooling Asphalt Surfaces: A special paint reduces heat absorption on asphalt surfaces in Makkah and the Holy Sites, effectively lowering road temperatures by 15-20 degrees Celsius, enhancing pilgrim comfort and reducing indirect carbon emissions from air conditioning.
• Behavioral and Cultural Integration: Programs are in place to educate pilgrims in multiple languages about environmental concepts and encourage green behaviors like waste sorting, embedding a sense of environmental responsibility. Sustainability concepts are also incorporated into religious discourse and materials.

2. Industrial Development and Economic Diversification

Vision 2030 identifies industry and mining as crucial economic pillars, aiming to increase their contribution to 15% of the GDP by 2030.

• “Nadleb” Program: The “National Industry Development and Logistics Program” (Nadleb) is central to this, focusing on increasing local content in vital sectors such as energy, health, technology, defense, and manufacturing industries. The goal is to raise local content to 50% in these sectors.
• Investment and Job Creation: The initiative aims to stimulate direct industrial investment, facilitate licensing, and create quality job opportunities for citizens in engineering, operation, and industrial management.
• Global Industrial Hub: The broader ambition is to transform the Kingdom into a leading industrial and logistics hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
• Specific Industrial Clusters: Saudi Arabia has launched several industrial clusters to enhance food security, including the largest food manufacturing cluster in Jeddah, which aims to attract over 800 factories by 2035 with investments reaching 20 billion riyals. There are also efforts to localize military industries, targeting over 50% of government spending on military equipment and services by 2030.

3. Women’s Empowerment

Vision 2030 seeks to empower women and enhance their role in society. This is evident in the Hajj sector, where Saudi women are increasingly taking on pivotal roles:

• Diverse Roles: Women are active participants in organizational, administrative, advocacy, guidance, healthcare, and logistical support services during Hajj.
• Field Presence: Saudi women have a noticeable presence in fieldwork, including monitoring, inspection, organization, providing support, guidance, translation, and receiving reports related to pilgrim services.
• Specialized Training: Female cadres receive intensive, specialized training to perform their duties efficiently and professionally, covering crowd management strategies, emergency procedures, communication skills (including sign language for those with disabilities), and psychological support.
• Cultural and Humanistic Bridge: Women’s presence on the ground adds a humanistic dimension, particularly in dealing with female pilgrims, enhancing communication and service quality while respecting cultural and religious sensitivities.

4. Emerging Space Economy

Vision 2030 also ventures into new economic frontiers, including the space economy.

• Diversification Beyond Traditional Assets: This strategic move aims to redefine economic value beyond traditional resources, viewing space not as a void but as “space full of opportunities”.
• Local Capabilities and Innovation: The Saudi Space Commission, as the executive arm, is mapping out a strategy to build local capabilities in space manufacturing, develop advanced space services, and localize technologies.
• Focus on Data and Satellites: The strategy emphasizes manufacturing small satellites and utilizing space data for economic decision-making, monitoring water and agricultural resources, urban planning, and disaster management.
• Job Creation: This sector is expected to generate thousands of quality jobs in fields like engineering, data science, and AI, nurturing Saudi human capital for the future.

5. Overarching Themes and Impact

Vision 2030 has ingrained a philosophy of continuous improvement, planning, and innovation across all sectors. The Kingdom emphasizes that serving pilgrims is a supreme national and religious priority and a sovereign responsibility. This commitment has transformed Hajj into a unique spiritual, humanistic, and organizational experience, reflecting the true image of Islam. The success of Hajj management, supported by strategic planning and robust digital transformation, serves as a global model for responsible leadership in managing massive annual human gatherings.

Saudi Vision 2030: Women’s Empowerment in Hajj and Creative Fields

Saudi Vision 2030 places a strong emphasis on women’s empowerment and enhancing their role across various sectors of society. This commitment is evident in several areas, including Hajj management and creative industries.

1. Empowerment in Hajj Management: Under Vision 2030, women are increasingly taking on pivotal roles in Hajj services, reflecting the Kingdom’s goal to enable women to play a more significant part in society.

• Diverse and Pivotal Roles: Saudi women are actively involved in a wide range of services during Hajj, including organizational, administrative, advocacy, guidance, healthcare, and logistical support. Their presence is notable in fieldwork, encompassing monitoring, inspection, organization, support provision, guidance, translation, and receiving pilgrim reports. They also play a crucial role in managing crowds and ensuring safety within the Grand Mosque and Holy Sites, working alongside other sectors like General Security, Passports, Civil Defense, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.
• Specialized Training and Professionalism: Female cadres receive intensive, specialized training to perform their duties efficiently and professionally. This training covers crowd management strategies, emergency procedures, communication skills (including sign language for those with disabilities), and psychological support. They also receive certification in first aid to handle urgent health cases. This comprehensive qualification ensures their readiness to interact effectively with pilgrims from diverse nationalities and cultures.
• Cultural and Humanistic Bridge: The presence of women on the ground adds a humanistic dimension to Hajj services, particularly in interactions with female pilgrims. This facilitates direct communication, enhances service quality, and respects cultural and religious sensitivities. They act as a “living bridge” between cultures, breaking language barriers and fostering understanding by conveying messages and support in a way that respects pilgrims’ backgrounds and feelings. Their presence helps create an atmosphere of psychological comfort and tranquility, especially in crowded areas like the circumambulation (Tawaf), striving (Sa’i), and the Jamarat area.
• Historical Continuity: The empowerment of Saudi women in Hajj management draws inspiration from the historical roles of Makkan women, including the Mothers of the Believers and venerable female companions, who offered support, guidance, and care to pilgrims.

2. Impact and Vision 2030 Alignment: The integration of Saudi women in Hajj services is a tangible outcome of Vision 2030’s aims to increase women’s participation in the labor market and enhance their role in various vital sectors. This focus ensures that women are active partners in national development, reflecting a modern Saudi identity that balances adherence to Islamic values with openness to modernity and global engagement. The significant progress made in women’s participation, particularly since the launch of Vision 2030, demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to creating quality job opportunities and leveraging national capabilities.

3. Women’s Empowerment in Other Sectors: Beyond Hajj, Vision 2030 has broadly impacted women’s roles in other areas:

• Cultural and Creative Industries: The Saudi cultural scene, invigorated by Vision 2030, has seen a significant increase in the involvement of Saudi women in creative fields such as writing, cinematic directing, fine arts, and publishing. This reflects the Kingdom’s growing awareness of the importance of culture in building societies and fostering innovation.
• Film Industry: Director Hana Al-Omair’s journey, as discussed in the “Fasila” podcast, exemplifies the challenges and opportunities for women in the nascent Saudi film industry. Her work highlights the need for continued development in the sector to balance self-expression with audience engagement and establish Saudi cinema locally and globally.

Overall, women’s empowerment under Saudi Vision 2030 is presented as a strategic transformation aimed at fostering a more dynamic and inclusive society, recognizing women as crucial partners in national development and achieving the Kingdom’s ambitious goals.

Hajj: A Global Media Phenomenon and Ambassador of Islam

Saudi Vision 2030 underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing various sectors, and a notable aspect of this is the global media coverage of the Hajj pilgrimage. Hajj is presented not merely as a religious ritual but as a global human phenomenon that garners widespread international attention.

Here’s a detailed discussion of media coverage concerning Hajj, drawing from the provided sources:

• Global Phenomenon and Broad Appeal: The Hajj is recognized as a global event due to its numerical scale, organizational complexity, and its unique human spectacle where diverse languages and cultures converge. It has become a subject of constant interest in the coverage of major international news agencies, attracting the attention of journalists, photographers, academics, and cultural observers from various backgrounds, including those of different religions and cultures. This annual gathering of over two million people from more than 160 nationalities in one place at one time for unified rituals is considered a rare and unparalleled global event.
• Scope and Nature of Coverage: International media outlets cover Hajj from multiple angles, including its religious, logistical, humanitarian, and cultural dimensions.
• Humanitarian and Spiritual Focus: Global photographers capture rich human material, showcasing emotions of devotion, solidarity, and surrender to God. These images, often depicting millions of pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba or standing on Mount Arafat in white Ihram, are widely circulated due to their symbolism and inspiration.
• Organizational Prowess: News agencies like Reuters have described Hajj as the largest organized human gathering in the world, commending Saudi Arabia’s exceptional capability in managing and securing over two million pilgrims within a limited geographical area and a short period, utilizing advanced technologies and integrated service networks.
• Technological Advancements: Media reports highlight the unprecedented technological and service developments witnessed in recent Hajj seasons, which have significantly enhanced efficiency and safety. This transformation in Hajj management has been clearly conveyed by global media, showcasing Hajj as an advanced civilized model that reflects the true image of Islam.
• Academic Interest: Beyond journalistic coverage, Hajj is studied by researchers from prestigious universities like Harvard and Oxford as a case study in fields such as crowd management, cultural impact, and comparative religion. These studies illustrate how Hajj presents an image of Islam characterized by tolerance, openness, and discipline.
• Key Media Outlets and Their Reporting:
• Major News Agencies: Prominent international news organizations such as BBC, CNN, Reuters, and France Press regularly feature Hajj in their coverage. For instance, BBC has published numerous television and pictorial reports, documenting the poignant moments of Hajj rituals and emphasizing its global appeal.
• Global Newspapers: Major international newspapers like The Guardian and The New York Times annually publish unique and impactful images capturing the devotion and unity of pilgrims.
• Documentary Programs: Channels like National Geographic (with programs like “Inside Mecca”) have documented the Hajj journey from the perspectives of pilgrims from various countries, showing how Muslims unite in their highest spiritual and humanitarian forms.
• Differences in Coverage (Arab vs. Western Media): Some observations point to a distinction in how different regional media cover Hajj. According to journalist Atheer Al-Zarfani, Arab media tends to focus on the spiritual and organizational aspects, while Western media often highlights humanitarian issues, cultural diversity, and the personal experiences of pilgrims, along with the organizational innovations.
• Impact on Global Perception of Islam: Hajj serves as the “truest ambassador” of Islam globally. It presents the religion’s essence in a live and embodied form to people of diverse faiths and cultures, leaving a profound impression and challenging existing stereotypes. In an era where extremist narratives might distort the understanding of Islam, Hajj re-presents the religion in its authentic form, promoting peace, order, discipline, devotion, equality, and mercy. The American journalist Michael Wolfe, in “The Architecture of Islam,” noted that Hajj exemplifies how religion unites people, irrespective of wealth, race, or color, in their submission to a single Creator.
• Facilitation of Media Coverage: Saudi Arabia provides extensive facilities for media professionals. In 2023, over 2000 media personnel from 150 countries covered the Hajj rituals, benefiting from digital permits and technologies that facilitate their movement within the Holy Sites. The dedicated media presence in the field is described as “huge and magnificent,” with a primary focus on serving religion and the nation.
• Strategic Use of Hajj (Soft Diplomacy): The Hajj is also recognized as a “soft political tool” by some countries with large pilgrim populations. Nations like Indonesia, Turkey, and Pakistan leverage their Hajj support programs to enhance their international influence and build diplomatic ties. By demonstrating commitment to Islamic values through Hajj organization, these countries gain domestic popularity and reinforce their image as leading Islamic nations, thereby increasing their weight in international forums like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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