Makkah, 14 Shawwal 1447 AH (2 April 2026)

Umm Al-Qura University, in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has concluded the third season of the Historical and Enrichment Sites Hackathon, held among the events accompanying the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum at the King Salman International Conference Center from 30 March to 1 April 2026, with wide participation from innovators and those interested in developing historical sites and enriching the cultural experience of visitors.

International Participation and Innovative Competition

The hackathon drew around 300 applicants who submitted 40 innovative projects from more than 32 countries, supervised by a specialized team of 16 judges, 11 trainers and 10 mentors from the relevant bodies, producing innovative ideas aimed at developing historical sites and enriching the experience of visitors and Umrah performers.

The event aimed to enrich the cultural and religious experience of pilgrims by harnessing participants' creative energy in a stimulating competitive environment that develops innovative solutions spotlighting the Kingdom's historical and enrichment sites.

Training Programs and Mentoring Sessions

The hackathon included a package of accompanying programs focused on developing participants' skills, including:

  • More than 50 training courses and enrichment sessions.
  • Around 380 training hours.
  • 20 specialized mentoring sessions.
  • Educational trips to historical sites.

These programs developed participants' capabilities and raised the quality of the innovative projects submitted.

The Winning Projects

The hackathon tracks saw strong competition among the teams, with the following results:

  • First place: "Dhillah", design innovation track.
  • Second place: "Murshidi", technical innovation track.
  • Third place: "Riqab", technical innovation track.
  • Joint third place: "Star of Identity", cultural innovation track.

Supporting Innovation and Vision 2030

The hackathon extends Umm Al-Qura University's role in supporting the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and strengthening national partnerships, while helping to develop services for pilgrims and highlight the Kingdom's cultural and historical identity, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.