Saudi Arabia opened the Sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah on November 8, 2026, using the four-day gathering to set out its preparations for the 1448 AH (2027) pilgrimage season. The event brought together more than 520 government, private, and nonprofit entities, with participation drawn from over 150 countries. According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which organized the conference with the Pilgrim Experience Program, the venue at the Jeddah Superdome spanned more than 67,000 square meters.
A Royal Opening Under the Theme "From Makkah to the World"
Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, opened the conference on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and under his patronage. The gathering carried the theme "From Makkah to the World."
In a royal message read on his behalf, King Salman said that "the continued success of Hajj seasons demonstrates the readiness and high efficiency of the Hajj system." Indonesian Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mochamad Irfan Yusuf spoke on behalf of the heads of pilgrims' affairs offices. Organizers also launched an awareness and training forum and a unified portal for Hajj workers.
Minister Outlines a Reformed Pilgrimage System
Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, used the opening to summarize the changes shaping the pilgrimage. He said the Nusuk platform and app had surpassed 70 million users, a figure that reflects the Kingdom's push to run the pilgrimage as a largely digital operation.
The minister reported that pilgrim satisfaction reached 93 percent during the 1447 AH Hajj season in 2026. He credited coordination among more than 60 government and operational entities and the review of roughly 600 work plans. The Pilgrim Experience Program, launched in 2019, exceeded its 90 percent target for the Umrah pilgrim experience, he added.
Al-Rabiah also pointed to wider access for international pilgrims. The number of international pilgrim service providers rose to 34 companies, and direct contracting expanded to 58 countries. He said the Direct Hajj Program now allows pilgrims from 75 additional nations to perform Hajj, while early preparations for 1448 AH began with pilgrims' affairs offices in 78 countries.
SAR 5.6 Billion Wasel Al-Haram Transport Project
Among eight agreements and memoranda signed at the ceremony, the Wasel Al-Haram transport project drew particular attention. Valued at about 5.6 billion riyals (roughly 1.51 billion dollars), the project is financed entirely by the private sector through public-private partnership agreements. The client is the General Transport Center, the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites.
The scheme is built around a park-and-ride model. According to the Royal Commission, it will deliver 19 stations and car parks along seven corridors covering 3.1 million square meters, served by a fleet of 3,200 buses. Visitors will leave vehicles outside the central area and travel to the Grand Mosque by bus, easing congestion around the Haram. The network is expected to carry some 205 million passengers a year once fully operational.
Accommodation Secured and Safety Tightened for 2027
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb announced that Saudi Arabia had secured more than 1.3 million beds for the 1448 AH season. He said about 4,000 accommodation buildings were made available in Makkah and Madinah, offering a combined capacity of 400,000 rooms, with temporary facilities providing roughly 560,000 additional beds. The designated buildings completed licensing by November 8, 2026.
Al-Khateeb said about 400 buildings were excluded from pilgrim accommodation after inspections found they did not meet essential requirements. Those inspections, run with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah under the Supreme Hajj Committee and in coordination with Civil Defence, examined structural integrity, emergency exits, and overall safety readiness. He noted that poor living conditions can undermine pilgrim satisfaction even when airport and transport services perform well.
What Pilgrims Should Know
Prospective pilgrims for 1448 AH should plan around the Kingdom's increasingly digital system. Creating and verifying a Nusuk account early helps streamline bookings, permits, and official communications. Those traveling from one of the newly added Direct Hajj Program countries should confirm the options now available through authorized providers in their nation.
Pilgrims should also budget time for the new transport arrangements in Makkah, where park-and-ride stations are set to become the standard way to reach the Grand Mosque. Finally, travelers are advised to book only licensed accommodation, since unlicensed buildings have been removed from the approved list, and to follow guidance from their local Hajj affairs office as 1448 AH preparations continue.