Jeddah — 19 Jumada al-Awwal 1447 AH / 10 November 2025.

The Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2025 in Jeddah hosted a panel discussion titled "Building a National System for Training Human Cadres in Serving Pilgrims," which focused on developing national capabilities and training and volunteering programs that help improve the quality of services provided to pilgrims, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience.

Maj. Gen. Nasser bin Othman Al-Nasser, Assistant Director of Public Security for Training Affairs, explained that preparations for the Hajj season begin with integrated operational plans that include training programs at three levels: senior leadership, executive leadership, and front-line field personnel, noting that the training includes theoretical and practical aspects in first aid, crowd management and executing field scenarios, and that more than 64,000 trainees went through these programs during last year's Hajj season to ensure sector readiness.

Hidaya Bukhari, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah for Shared Services, affirmed that the ministry is working to build an integrated competency framework covering all field challenges and actual needs in the pilgrim's journey, stressing that training programs help raise the efficiency of personnel and improve the quality of field services provided to pilgrims.

In the same context, Dr. Budour Al-Rayes, Deputy CEO of the Human Capability Development Program, explained that training is a fundamental pillar in preparing Saudi citizens capable of competing globally, by focusing on essential skills, values and knowledge, noting the importance of developing professional and knowledge-based skills as part of an integrated system for preparing national cadres.

For his part, Eng. Omar bin Mohammed Najjar, Deputy CEO of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation ("MiSK"), noted that the foundation has been working for eight years on volunteering programs to serve pilgrims, with more than 4,000 young men and women taking part in these initiatives, affirming that the "Fikr Lil-Haramain" program represents an inspiring model for stimulating social innovation and encouraging young people to offer innovative future solutions to serve pilgrims.

This panel is part of the efforts of the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition 2025 to build an integrated national system for training talent and expanding the scope of volunteer participation, enhancing the sustainability of services and elevating the pilgrim experience according to the highest global standards.