RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, has opened registration for the second Researchers in the Service of Pilgrims award, supporting innovation and applied research in the Hajj and Umrah sector.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the award, promoting innovation in pilgrims’ services in line with Saudi Vision 2030, targets undergraduate and graduate students inside and outside the Kingdom, as well as faculty members and researchers from academic and research institutions.
As part of the efforts to enhance Hajj and Umrah services and achieve Vision 2030 goals, the ministries have launched the second edition of the award under the theme, “Towards research innovation that enriches the pilgrim and Umrah experience.”
It encourages practical solutions to sector challenges and opportunities, aiming to enhance the pilgrim experience and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in crowd management and religious services.
The award promotes applied research and bridges academic knowledge with real-world challenges.
It covers eight strategic tracks: digital transformation and AI, spiritual experience enhancement, sustainability, crowd safety, health services, smart transport, economics and support services, and data governance.
The total prize pool is SR1,625,000 ($433,225) in addition to non-monetary support such as consultations to help implement winning projects.
Applicants are invited to review conditions and register via the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s official website.
