Hajj 2025: Smart book on pilgrimage launched

Cairo: Saudi Arabia has unveiled a smart guide in several languages for the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage, as part of the kingdom’s preparations for the annual religious congregation, due this year in early June.

The "Smart Book of Hajj Rituals" initiative is an electronic guide available in six languages — Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Malayalam, and Turkish. The guide is accessible in electronic libraries in mosques and aboard flights of the Saudi national carrier, Saudia. It aims to educate pilgrims about the rules and rites of Hajj.

The initiative was launched by Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Abdullatif Al Al Sheikh, who also heads the ministry’s Supreme Committee for Hajj, Umrah and Visit Affairs. It was introduced during a meeting with officials serving in Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest mosque.

The meeting reviewed Hajj-related plans, including preparations of mosques along pilgrims’ routes, various guidance programmes, deployment of translators in international languages at land, sea, and air ports, and the distribution of awareness-raising publications.

Hajj is one of Islam’s five obligatory duties. Muslims who are physically and financially able must perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime.

Around 1.8 million Muslims, including 1.6 million from abroad, performed Hajj last year, according to official Saudi figures.