Saudi Arabia will host the sixth edition of its Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah from November 8 to 11, 2026. According to organisers, the event will take place under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and is expected to draw officials and industry leaders from more than 95 countries.
The gathering is organised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in partnership with the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the flagship initiatives of Vision 2030. It has become the largest annual forum dedicated to the business and logistics of serving pilgrims.
A focus on innovation and sustainability
According to organisers, this year's programme centres on innovation and sustainability across the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem. The four-day event will feature ministerial panels, keynote addresses and policy dialogue aimed at improving the pilgrim experience from arrival to departure.
The conference will also include hands-on capability building for practitioners in areas such as crowd operations and hospitality. An innovation zone is planned to showcase early-stage ventures working on mobility, health and hospitality solutions, reflecting the Kingdom's drive to bring new technology into the service of pilgrims.
The exhibition brings together the many sectors that support the pilgrimage, including travel and tourism, transportation, telecommunications, healthcare, catering, hospitality, technology, insurance, crowd management and logistics. Non-profit and cooperative institutions are also represented, offering solutions aimed at improving services and promoting sustainability.
Building on a growing event
The forum has expanded rapidly in recent years. According to the Pilgrim Experience Program, a previous edition attracted more than 120,000 visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom, along with over 220 exhibitors from 137 countries, and saw the signing of more than 670 cooperation agreements.
Earlier editions also featured more than 80 sessions and 60 specialised workshops, bringing together academics, researchers, pilgrims' affairs offices, diplomatic missions and thousands of trainees from around the world. Organisers say these gatherings have contributed directly to improvements in the quality of services offered during the Hajj season.
The event serves as a marketplace where pilgrim service providers, government bodies and technology firms sign agreements and coordinate plans ahead of the next Hajj. With the 2027 season approaching, the November meeting is expected to shape many of the arrangements that pilgrims will experience in the holy sites.
Why it matters for pilgrims
While the conference is aimed at industry professionals rather than individual worshippers, its decisions have a direct impact on the pilgrim experience. Agreements reached in Jeddah help determine the standard of transport, accommodation, catering and crowd management that pilgrims encounter the following year.
The emphasis on technology and sustainability also signals the direction of future Hajj and Umrah services, from digital platforms that manage permits and payments to cooling and crowd systems designed to keep pilgrims safe in extreme heat.
Practical notes
Pilgrims and service providers who wish to follow the conference can register and find the official programme through the event's website at hajjconfex.com. Those planning Hajj or Umrah in the coming year may find it useful to watch for announcements made during the event, as new services, apps and requirements are often unveiled there.
Tour operators and pilgrims' affairs offices should treat the November dates as a key point in the planning calendar, since packages, quotas and service agreements for the following season are frequently confirmed around this time. Individual pilgrims are advised to book through licensed, accredited operators and to rely on official ministry channels and the Nusuk platform for the most accurate and up-to-date information.