Madinah embodies the spirit of the new Saudi Arabia
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I recently embarked on my first visit to the holy city of Madinah. The visit was significant as it was the first such trip to Madinah by a Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia in more than 10 years. It was part of my broader engagement with Saudis at all levels and across different regions of the Kingdom, following the restoration of full diplomatic relations between Canada and Saudi Arabia in 2023. I greatly enjoy meeting Saudis in Riyadh and across the Kingdom and am always impressed by their warm hospitality, their drive to deliver on Vision 2030 and their hopes for the future.
With this visit, I wanted to recognize the religious, cultural and economic importance of Madinah to Saudi Arabia. The Two Holy Mosques, the two holiest sites in Islam, are under the custodianship of King Salman. The second of these holy sites, the Prophet’s Mosque, is in Madinah, a city that therefore continues to play an important role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s traditional leadership of the Muslim world.
The visit was also intended to convey to the 2 million Muslims residing in Canada (who make up more than 5 percent of the total population) that I am focused on the issues that matter to them as their ambassador to Saudi Arabia, especially because the Kingdom plays an important role in facilitating a fulfilling pilgrimage experience for them. With the start of the Hajj season, many Muslim Canadians will be traveling to the Kingdom to perform pilgrimage rituals and will be safely and warmly welcomed.
I witnessed firsthand how Madinah is upgrading its hospitality offerings and diversifying its destination options
Jean-Philippe Linteau
More broadly, millions of Muslims from different countries flock to Madinah for Hajj and Umrah every year, including an increasing number of Canadians. In fact, as part of the Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program under the leadership of Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the Kingdom is aiming to receive 30 million pilgrims by 2030, up from about 15 million this year. I witnessed firsthand during my visit how Madinah is embracing this challenge, upgrading its hospitality offerings and diversifying its destination options to include more religious and nonreligious options for pilgrims who visit the city.
I also held constructive discussions with Saudi interlocutors, including a fruitful meeting with Madinah Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan, as well as Mayor of Madinah Fahad Al- Bulihshi. Under their leadership, great strides are being made in the city in terms of delivering on the Vision 2030 Quality of Life Program for the benefit of Saudi residents and visitors alike.
While delivering on Vision 2030 and developing touristic offerings, the Saudi leadership still manages to preserve and protect Madinah’s authenticity and integrity. I was pleased to be able to experience the city’s rich Islamic and historical heritage by visiting the Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization and other sites such as Mount Uhud. It is evident that Madinah Province has much to offer Canadian and international visitors, including rich archaeological landmarks and heritage sites to behold, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of AlUla and sublime natural locations near the Red Sea.
My visit to Madinah was truly eye-opening. I was able to see how important this holy city is for Muslims from around the world
Jean-Philippe Linteau
In Canada, sustainability is also integral to our national ethos. We recognize the importance of harmonizing our efforts with Saudi Arabia’s priorities, particularly in advancing sustainable development and mitigating climate change. While in Madinah, I had a chance to ride Careem bikes, the first public network of electric bicycles in Saudi Arabia. What a joy it was to bike around Madinah. Canada’s PBSC Urban Solutions is a partner in this project, which offers a sustainable transport option for visitors to explore the city in an ecofriendly manner, reducing traffic congestion and noise levels.
This commitment to sustainability is also reflected in the development and rehabilitation plan for Wadi Al-Aqeeq, one of the most famous geographical and historical landmarks in the Madinah region and which is being shaped into a green oasis within the city. I was able to walk through the wadi and see firsthand an innovative example of rehabilitation and urban development under the Al Madinah Regional Development Authority, which is seeking to establish environmentally friendly and modern spaces that still maintain their natural integrity.
My visit to Madinah was truly eye-opening. I was able to see how important this holy city is for Muslims from around the world. I also saw how, as is the case across the Kingdom, Madinah is changing under Vision 2030 to offer an improved experience to everyone. The integration of livability and sustainability in the transformation was evident.
I was so warmly welcomed and felt a remarkable sense of peacefulness in Madinah. I left with many ideas to work on to enhance the partnership between Saudi Arabia and Canada through collaborative endeavors and innovative solutions. I cannot wait to go back.
- Jean-Philippe Linteau is Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
