RIYADH: As part of its preparations for the upcoming Umrah season, which begins on July 7, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Thursday held its first meeting with companies and institutions that provide services for pilgrims. The participants included the deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah, Abdulfattah Mashat, and representatives of authorities involved in Umrah and visitation services, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Mashat said the ministry’s initiatives and regulations relating to Umrah are designed to achieve excellence through the joint efforts of partners in all sectors, with a particular focus on upgrading the role of the private sector in improving the services provided to pilgrims locally and internationally. He highlighted the importance of cooperation between the ministry and the companies and institutions that serve the Umrah sector, to ensure that pilgrims from all over the world are provided with the best possible services that meet the highest standards of quality and ensure their comfort and safety. This is best achieved by the development and introduction of innovative services, including digital platforms, the meeting heard. The participants also discussed the possibility of accepting applications for licenses to provide Umrah services all year round, and the development of a methodology for classifying companies and institutions operating in the sector. Other topics included the development of the foundations of a unified platform by the ministry that will become the digital portal for all activities and work related to Umrah, and help ensure the quality and reliability of services provided by individuals and establishments to pilgrims in the Kingdom and beyond.