The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has expanded its programme of multilingual awareness guides, publishing information on the rights and duties of pilgrims in a wide range of languages. The effort is designed to make sure that pilgrims from around the world can understand the rules, health advice and practical arrangements of their journey in a language they know well.

According to the ministry, the guides cover religious, health, procedural and logistical information, and a dedicated legal awareness guide sets out pilgrims' rights and duties alongside the regulations that govern their trip. The material has been made available on the ministry's website in 14 languages.

Reaching pilgrims in their own language

Pilgrims travel to Makkah and Madinah from almost every country, speaking dozens of languages between them. Guidance that exists only in Arabic or English inevitably leaves many unable to follow it. By translating its awareness material into 14 of the most widely spoken languages, the ministry aims to close that gap.

The languages span major pilgrim populations, including Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay, Hausa, Amharic, Persian, Spanish, Turkish and Russian. The guides are designed to be clear and illustrative, using images, diagrams and short educational clips so that key points are easy to grasp even for those with limited literacy.

Rights, duties and practical safety

The content goes beyond ritual instructions. A central theme is the rights of pilgrims, described in the Kingdom as the guests of God, and the corresponding duties they carry during their stay. This includes what pilgrims can expect from the companies and offices that serve them, as well as the rules they are expected to follow.

The guides also carry health and safety messages that matter directly to pilgrims' wellbeing. These typically cover staying hydrated in the heat, recognising the signs of exhaustion, following crowd-management instructions at the holy sites, and knowing where to turn for help. Delivered in a pilgrim's own language, such advice is far more likely to be understood and acted upon.

The awareness drive sits alongside other services the ministry has rolled out to support pilgrims, including multilingual guidance channels and digital tools on the Nusuk platform. Together they reflect a steady effort to inform pilgrims before problems arise, rather than only responding once they do.

How pilgrims can make use of the guides

For pilgrims and the agents who organise their trips, the guides are a free and authoritative reference that can be consulted before departure and during the journey.

  • Read the guide in your own language before you travel. Understanding your rights and duties in advance helps you know what to expect and what is expected of you.
  • Note the health and safety advice. Guidance on heat, hydration and crowd safety can prevent the most common problems pilgrims face at the holy sites.
  • Keep the legal awareness guide handy. If a dispute arises with a service provider, knowing your rights and the proper channels helps you resolve it.
  • Use only official sources. Access the guides through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's own website to be sure the information is accurate and current.

The ministry has framed the guides as a shared responsibility. Hajj and Umrah companies are encouraged to point their clients to the material, and group leaders can use it to brief pilgrims before and during the trip. When every member of a group understands the same instructions, crowds move more smoothly and fewer people become separated or confused at the holy sites.

According to the ministry, the multilingual programme is part of a broader push to preserve the health, safety and rights of pilgrims. For the millions who arrive each year, guidance in a familiar language is a small but meaningful step towards a smoother and safer pilgrimage.