Saudi Arabia and Malaysia Deepen Pilgrimage Cooperation at 2025 Umrah and Ziyarah Forum

By : Abdullah Bugis

Madinah, April 15, 2025 - Saudi Arabia and Malaysia reaffirmed their close partnership in religious tourism during the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum 2025, inaugurated on Tuesday by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Al-Madinah Region. The three-day event, running from April 15 to 17, convened religious authorities, policy experts, and industry leaders from across the Islamic world to promote coordinated approaches to serving pilgrims.

Representing Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Syed Saleh Bin Syed Abdul Rahman, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Tourism and Services Company of Lembaga Tabung Haji, addressed the forum with remarks recognizing Saudi Arabia’s transformative contributions to enhancing the pilgrimage journey. He praised the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for establishing a global venue focused on elevating standards and exchanging expertise across the sector.

In his speech, Dato’ Sri Syed Saleh highlighted key technological and logistical advancements—namely the introduction of the “Nusuk” platform, high-speed rail infrastructure, and adaptive visa frameworks—as milestones in modernizing the Umrah experience. These developments, he observed, align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in creating a more seamless, inclusive, and spiritually meaningful pilgrimage.

He noted that Malaysia, through Tabung Haji, maintains close collaboration with Saudi authorities to ensure its pilgrims benefit from streamlined and dignified services. This longstanding partnership, he added, is founded on shared ethical principles and religious stewardship.

Calling for continued multilateral cooperation, Dato’ Sri Syed Saleh urged global stakeholders to work together in improving healthcare protocols, infrastructure, and digital transformation to ensure pilgrim welfare in an evolving world.

He concluded by reaffirming Malaysia’s enduring commitment to working hand-in-hand with Saudi Arabia and other nations to enhance the future of pilgrimage services, both in quality and accessibility.

Hosted annually by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum serves as a central hub for advancing innovation, fostering policy alignment, and strengthening global networks in the pilgrimage sector.