By Fatima Sanda
The fourth edition of Hajj Exhibition and Conference was opened yesterday 13th January in Jeddah Saudi Arabia.

The event designed to enhance Hajj experiences through innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing will hold from January 13th to 16th at the Jeddah Superdome.

According to data provided on hajjconfex.com, the event gathers about 300 organizations and 130 experts from across the world. Features of the exhibition include over 45 workshop sessions, panel discussions, Hajj Talks and displays of ultra-modern technologies for
operational efficiency, and prominent solutions for crowd management.

The Hajj and Umrah Expo is a key initiative under Saudi Vision 2030, that seeks to modernize and improve services offered to pilgrims while in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia in recent times lays great emphasis on improving pilgrims’ experiences through the use of technology especially artificial
intelligence, eco-friendly technologies, and digital systems which featured predominantly in the exhibition.

The event plays out as a global hub for over 90 countries with over 950 delegates to meet and interact with over 280 exhibitors ready to offer innovative services to one’s pilgrims. It brings together all sectors within the Hajj industry stimulating collaborative relationships, stirring networking, exchange of knowledge and promoting best practices within the industry.

With a variety of services to choose from, the Hajj and Umrah Conference is a platform that enhances competition for quality service provision to guests on pilgrimage.

Country representatives attending the Expo get to discover and select from a variety of service providers ready to offer standard services on the ground of the exhibition. Private and public Hajj operators connect with, negotiate and enter agreements with such service providers that exhibit their products at the event.

Nigeria was well represented in this largest gathering dedicated to Hajj and Umrah services. All participants were at various times seen attentively engaged in serious discussions at the expo. Among the attendees from Nigeria were the NAHCON Chairman Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman; Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello and his counterpart from the House Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage, Hon. Jafaru Mohammed Ali, accompanied by their members.

Others seen at the exhibition were various Executive Secretaries of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and their leadership in persons of Chairman Forum of States Malam Idris Almakura and his Deputy Alhaji Faruku Musa Yaro Enabo in the company of other Executive Secretaries. Similarly, individual members and Executive members of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Organisations in Nigeria were beheld exploring and engaging in discussions with various exhibitors. Umza Aviation Services Nigeria in collaboration with Golden Sky runs a stand at the event.
Sanda writes from NAHCON