MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Umm Al-Qura University, under the “Rafid Al-Haramain” initiative has trained over 35,000 personnel to serve pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj season.
The initiative implemented through cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, forms part of broader efforts to enhance workforce efficiency and elevate the quality of services provided to pilgrims, in partnership with several government, private-sector, and non-profit organisations, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday.
The programme delivered 348 specialised training courses covering a wide range of operational, organizational, and service-related areas.
More than 35,240 trainees benefited from the initiative, with the total number of training hours exceeding 3,123.
Around 50 entities participated in the programme, reflecting strong institutional cooperation and integration in supporting pilgrims and improving the overall Hajj experience in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The initiative also highlights the university’s commitment to utilising its academic, research, and professional training expertise to support the Hajj and Umrah sector.
By strengthening the readiness of national cadres and promoting high professional and organisational standards, the programme contributes to the continuous development of services offered to pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage season.
