The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will host a two-day conference devoted to the development of Hajj and Umrah services, titled Transformation Toward Innovation, beginning on March 23 in Jeddah. Organizers said the event, which will be held under the patronage of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and governor of Makkah region, will include sessions designed to support the accelerating pace of development of technological applications and establish platforms and workshops to showcase innovation. Hisham bin Abdulmoneim Saeed, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for affairs of Umrah performers and pilgrims, said that the conference is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development plan, in which the service of pilgrims is an important element, and reflects the desire of the ministry to enhance the services provided to them. The conference provides an effective platform for the most important decision-makers, academics and all those with an interested in the Hajj and Umrah sector, he added. It offers an attractive gateway for investors to build strategic partnerships with stakeholders from government and the private and non-profit sectors, said Saeed, and combine efforts to support the accelerating pace of technology and harness its benefits in the service of pilgrims. The conference will also highlight upcoming projects in the Kingdom related to Hajj and Umrah, help to build global and local partnerships for the improvement of services provided to pilgrims, and develop advanced tools and methodologies to better serve their needs, he added. It aims to attract global investments and help build effective partnerships to enhance quality and create a competitive environment in which global expertise can play a role in the development of Hajj and Umrah services. Saeed said that the conference also offers an opportunity to canvas opinions and recommendations from business platforms, take advantage of investment opportunities, conclude contracts and agreements, and build working relationships. Delegates at the conference are expected to include representatives from government agencies, private businesses and Hajj and Umrah agencies, the air and land transport sectors, public transportation, travel agencies, and car and bus rental companies. Other participants will include representatives of mail and shipping companies, hotel chains, catering services, banks, consumer goods companies, advertising agencies, livestock-trading companies, gift and souvenir shops and furniture stores, the security sector, the healthcare sector, education and training centers, technology and artificial intelligence companies, the construction industry, and real estate development companies.