The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, announced the launch of the second edition of the National Research Award, “Researchers Serving the Guests of God.” This initiative, themed “Towards Research Innovation that Enriches the Hajj and Umrah Experience,” builds upon the success of the first edition and aims to strengthen the applied scientific research system and support innovation in the Hajj and Umrah sector, in line with the ambitious goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Historical background and ongoing efforts
This award comes within the context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to serve the pilgrims, a cornerstone of its history and identity. Over the decades, the Kingdom has faced increasing logistical and organizational challenges with the rising number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims arriving from all corners of the globe. Hosting these millions annually is a tremendous responsibility that necessitates continuous development of infrastructure and services. As part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, ambitious goals have been set to increase capacity to accommodate more pilgrims, with a focus on enriching their religious and cultural experience and ensuring their safety and comfort. This makes scientific research and innovation a strategic imperative for achieving these objectives.
The award's objectives and strategic importance
The “Researchers Serving the Guests of God” award aims to build a strong bridge between academia and the executive bodies working within the Hajj and Umrah system. By motivating national talent among students and researchers, the award seeks to transform research ideas into practical and innovative solutions that address existing field challenges. Empowering young and creative minds not only contributes to improving services provided to pilgrims but also enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading global center in crowd management and a model to be emulated in organizing major religious rites and rituals.
Comprehensive research themes
To ensure comprehensive coverage of the various aspects of the pilgrim's experience, the award identified eight main themes, including:
- Digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
- Community excellence in serving pilgrims and Umrah performers.
- Environmental sustainability in the holy sites.
- Crowd management and public safety.
- Health and preventive services.
- Logistics and smart transportation.
- The economy and supporting services.
- Data governance and institutional integration.
Target groups and awards
The award targets two main categories: undergraduate and graduate students within and outside the Kingdom, and faculty members, independent researchers, and staff of research institutions. The executive committee explained that the monetary value of the prizes is 100,000 riyals for first place and 75,000 riyals for second place in each category, in addition to three special prizes for the best independent research, bringing the total value of the prizes to 1,625,000 riyals. The award also includes opportunities for support and consultation to develop the winning projects and implement them in the field.
Timetable and participation mechanism
The committee indicated that registration and submissions will be announced later via the official website of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The submission period is scheduled to continue until the end of August 2026, with results to be announced in October of the same year. The awards ceremony will be held as part of the sixth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in November 2026. The committee encouraged all interested parties to follow the official platform to review the terms and conditions once the submission period opens.
