MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, will take part in the ‘History of Haj and the Two Holy Mosques Forum’, organised by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), in cooperation with the Ministry of Haj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Programme. The forum will run from November 10 to 12, alongside the fifth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition at the Super Dome in Jeddah.
A delegation from the ministry will attend the forum, which aims to highlight Saudi Arabia’s historical and organisational efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques, document architectural and artistic transformations of the holy sites, and employ modern methods, including digital media, to study the history of Haj.
The forum will also support specialised scholarly research and translate its outputs into educational and media content, showcasing the evolution of the Haj journey across the Islamic world.
Over three days, the forum will feature more than 10 specialised panel sessions with over 50 experts, including historians, researchers and specialists in architecture, culture, media, and digital technologies, creating a distinctive scholarly and cultural platform for documenting Hajj rites through a modern lens.
The proceedings will cover five main themes namely the organisation of Haj and Umrah and serving the Guests of Allah; developments in crowd management, transport and healthcare; digital transformation in documentation and guidance; historical chronicles and travellers’ writings on Haj and the Two Holy Mosques; and architectural styles, visual identity in manuscripts and maps, cultural and literary memory and the role of modern technologies and AI in historical documentation.
An accompanying exhibition, 'A Century of Care for the Two Holy Mosques,' will showcase the history of Haj over the past hundred years through rare documents, photographs, manuscripts, artefacts, digital media and modern display technologies.
A ministry spokesperson noted that the King Abdulaziz Foundation organises the forum as part of its mission to preserve and document the history of the Kingdom and the Two Holy Mosques.
“The forum provides a national and global platform for documenting Haj rites and enhancing the Kingdom’s civilisational image, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives in culture and tourism, through interactive scholarly and digital content that highlights the historical depth of Haj and the Two Holy Mosques,” the spokesperson said.
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