Journey Through The History Of Hajj At Jeddah’s Premier Forum On Sacred Pilgrimage Sites

Published on November 10, 2025

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is the center for an important event that tells the story of the Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques. From November 10 to 12, 2025, the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), together with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, is hosting the “History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques” Forum. This event is also part of the 5th edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition, taking place at Super Dome Jeddah. This is a wonderful moment to consider the history and the spirituality of the millions of Muslims each year as they journey to Mecca.

The forum aspires to narrate the Kingdom’s extraordinary efforts in the care and advancement of the Two Holy Mosques and the changes that have occurred to the Hajj pilgrimage over the years. This is an opportunity to understand the architectural and technological changes that have occurred over the years with respect to the Hajj and the pilgrimage, to enrich the discourse, and to share knowledge.

A Historic Platform for Knowledge and Dialogue

The forum will run for 3 days and have over 10 specialized panel sessions and 50 experts spanning over many disciplines such as history, architecture, culture, digital technology, and media. Our diverse group of experts and participants will help guide discussions on the legacy of the Hajj and the pilgrimage management.

The forum’s topics will be both important and varied. One of the primary conversations will be focused on the work and services being offered to the Guests of Allah during the Hajj and Umrah. Our services include crowd management, transportation, healthcare, guidance, and other services to ensure the safety and comfort of the millions of pilgrims.

We will look at how digital technology will influence the documentation of the Hajj experience. Incorporating digital media and AI technology to access the Hajj history will be discussed. The use of digital technology to track crowds and provide virtual pilgrimages will enhance the experience of Hajj. Digital technology to track crowds and virtual pilgrimages will enhance the experience of Hajj, making it safer and more accessible for Muslims around the world.

The forum will also look at the wealth of changes to the buildings of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina over the years. The mosques have been home to changes in their structure, design, and function to meet the demands of the growing worshipping population. Each design serves multiple worshippers at once, and scholars will look at the historical design changes and their role in shaping the experience of millions.

Historical accounts and travelers’ writings on Hajj will also be revisited during the forum. These writings have documented the journeys taken by pilgrims and their valuable accounts of the spiritual journeys and the holy places. These narratives help researchers understand the rich and complex relationship between the Islamic world and the holy cities.

The forum will also focus on Hajj’s cultural and literary memory. Hajj is one of the most important themes in Islamic literature and art. The forum will examine the cultural representations of the pilgrimage in poetry, paintings, and manuscripts. The spiritual journeys of pilgrims and the Hajj’s impact on the Islamic world’s cultural identity will be documented. The emphasis will be on the art and literature that capture these dimensions.

Furthermore, the forum will highlight the documentation, preservation, and the importance of the pilgrimage for future generations. Contemporary digital innovations, virtual and augmented Hajj experiences, and immersive digital archives enable unprecedented representations of the Hajj journey and spread the significance of the Two Holy Mosques. As a result, global populations can begin to appreciate the Hajj pilgrimage.

A Century of Care: Exhibition on the History of Hajj

The exhibition “A Century of Care for the Two Holy Mosques” runs parallel to the forum and offers historical context to the celebration of Hajj in the last century. The exhibition showcases the varied materials and devotion the Kingdom placed over the last century to the care and construction of the Holy Mosques. Accompanying the authentic materials used in the Hajj pilgrimage were technological enhancements and authentic historical materials like photographs and manuscripts to create stimulating narratives about the historical materials on display.

The exhibition reiterates the Kingdom’s commitment to sacred Hajj history. The Kingdom plays a pivotal role in global pilgrimage accessibility, the pillars of Islam, facilitating Hajj for millions of Muslims each year.

Conclusion: A Global Standing for the Legacy of Hajj

The forum “History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques” is an extraordinary combination of academic dialogues, technological advancements, historical documentation, and innovations. It brings together specialists from across the globe. It is a step for the forum toward safeguarding and celebrating the Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques. It symbolizes the dedication of the Kingdom toward the safeguarding of culture and the vision of Saudi Vision 2030 regarding the enhancement of cultural exchange, tourism, and digital transformation.