Enhancing Hajj And Umrah: Saudi Minister Wraps Up Productive Visit To Malaysia

Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, concluded an official visit to Malaysia. Accompanied by a high-level delegation from both public and private sectors, he discussed enhancing the Umrah journey for Malaysian pilgrims. Meetings with Malaysian officials and Umrah companies aimed at improving services and cooperation.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Minister of Religious Affairs Dato' Muhammad Naeem bin Mukhtar met with Dr. Al-Rabiah. The prime minister praised Saudi Arabia's efforts to enhance the Umrah experience, highlighting the strong bilateral relationship. Discussions focused on strengthening ties and collaborating to improve services for Malaysian pilgrims.

Dr. Al-Rabiah held meetings with relevant authorities from both sectors to discuss serving Malaysian pilgrims better. These discussions led to forming a joint working group to explore expanding the Makkah Route Initiative for Malaysian pilgrims. They also considered implementing the "Tabung Haji" Pilgrims Management and Fund Board experience in other countries.

The minister announced that the "Nusuk" application would soon be available in Malay, providing convenient services for Malaysian pilgrims. During a meeting at the Nusuk exhibition, he discussed digital initiatives offered by Saudi Arabia to enhance the pilgrimage experience. The "Nusuk Wallet" was highlighted as a digital solution for managing money during the pilgrimage, eliminating the need for cash.

Additionally, Dr. Al-Rabiah emphasized the role of "Nusuk Care" centers, which provide direct services through 178 service points in a unified system. The "Nusuk Card" simplifies access to holy sites and service procurement during Hajj rituals.

Commitment to Safety and Security

The Saudi and Malaysian sides reaffirmed their commitment to working together against fake Hajj campaigns. They aim to ensure pilgrims' security and safety by using official channels for planning Hajj and Umrah trips.

Dr. Al-Rabiah also addressed ongoing development efforts in the Two Holy Mosques, including increasing Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah's capacity through regulated entry permits. He mentioned renovating 100 Islamic historical sites to enrich pilgrims' spiritual journeys.

The meetings resulted in establishing a joint working group to explore expanding the Makkah Route Initiative for Malaysian pilgrims. They also considered implementing the "Tabung Haji" Pilgrims Management and Fund Board experience in other countries.

The minister highlighted ongoing development efforts in the Two Holy Mosques, including increasing Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah's capacity through regulated entry permits. He mentioned renovating 100 Islamic historical sites to enrich pilgrims' spiritual journeys.

The visit concluded with both sides affirming their commitment to enhancing cooperation and ensuring a safe pilgrimage experience for all Malaysian pilgrims.

With inputs from SPA