Kuala Lumpur, August 29, 2024, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah concluded an official visit to Malaysia today. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation of leaders from both the public and private sectors involved in the pilgrims' service system. During his visit, they discussed ways of cooperating with Malaysian officials and heads of Umrah companies to facilitate and improve the Umrah journey for those coming from Malaysia.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Minister of Religious Affairs Dato' Muhammad Naeem bin Mukhtar met with Dr. Al-Rabiah. The prime minister commended the Kingdom's efforts to enhance the Umrah experience and simplify procedures, emphasizing the strong relationship between the two countries. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and collaborating to enhance services for Malaysian pilgrims.
Dr. Al-Rabiah conducted meetings with relevant authorities from both the public and private sectors to discuss serving Malaysian pilgrims. The meetings resulted in the establishment of a joint working group to explore expanding the Makkah Route Initiative to include Malaysian pilgrims and the potential implementation of the "Tabung Haji" Pilgrims Management and Fund Board experience in other countries.
In terms of digital services, the minister of Hajj and Umrah announced that the "Nusuk" application will soon be available in the Malay language to provide convenient and efficient services for Malaysian pilgrims.
The Saudi and Malaysian sides affirmed their commitment to working together to confront fake Hajj campaigns and ensure the security and safety of pilgrims and Umrah performers during their faith journey by taking advantage of the official and approved channels to plan Hajj and Umrah trips.
During a meeting with the heads of Umrah companies at the Nusuk exhibition, the minister of Hajj and Umrah discussed digital initiatives offered by Saudi Arabia to enhance the experience for the guests of the Two Holy Mosques. He highlighted the "Nusuk Wallet" as a digital solution for managing money during the pilgrimage, eliminating the need for carrying cash.
The minister also emphasized the role of "Nusuk Care" centers, which provide direct services through a unified system of 178 service points. Furthermore, the "Nusuk Card" simplifies access to holy sites and the procurement of services during the Hajj rituals.
Dr. Al-Rabiah addressed the ongoing development and expansion efforts in the Two Holy Mosques, including increasing the capacity of the Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah through regulated entry permits. Additionally, he mentioned the ongoing renovation of 100 Islamic historical sites to enrich the spiritual journeys of pilgrims and Umrah performers.
