Under the gracious patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God protect him – and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Region, Kidana Development and Investment Company, the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, actively participated in the 25th Scientific Forum for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit Research. The forum was organized by Umm Al-Qura University in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah from October 8 to 9, 2025, under the theme “Innovation and Sustainability in Serving the Guests of the Two Holy Mosques.” The forum served as an ideal platform to showcase the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts in managing and developing the holy sites and to affirm Kidana’s commitment to Saudi Vision 2030 goals, enhancing the quality of life and enriching the experience of the guests of the Two Holy Mosques.
Serving the Guests of the Two Holy Mosques: A Priority Since the Founding Era
Kidana’s CEO, Eng. Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Majmaj, participated in the forum’s main panel discussion titled “Government Efforts in Innovation and Sustainability in Serving the Guests of the Two Holy Mosques.” He emphasized that serving the guests of the Two Holy Mosques has been a top priority for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the era of the founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud – may God have mercy on him – and highlighted Kidana’s approach in implementing innovative projects to improve the guests’ experience.
The CEO explained that this initiative aligns with Kidana’s vision to sustain the development of the holy sites, increase their capacity, and collaborate with various relevant sectors to transform the holy sites into a vibrant destination that welcomes visitors year-round while operating with high efficiency. Kidana’s work is based on an integrated strategy focused on innovation in designing and developing projects to enhance service quality and ensure sustainable urban development in the holy sites.
Innovation in Urban Solutions and Crowd Management
The CEO also highlighted Kidana’s efforts in urban development within the holy sites and its pivotal role in implementing innovative organizational solutions, increasing capacity, and enhancing the visitor experience. Kidana also focuses on aligning with the Kingdom’s sustainability vision by leading specialized initiatives supported by the latest technologies in crowd management and services. Key efforts include developing pedestrian pathways to improve quality of life, ensure smooth crowd flow, and maintain pilgrims’ safety, reflecting the commitment to their comfort.
He stressed that sustainable development requires operational efficiency, which Kidana has implemented through establishing performance and operational excellence centers to enhance asset and service management while achieving the highest standards of operational efficiency and sustainability.
Commitment to Sustainability in the Holy Sites
In his speech, the CEO emphasized Kidana’s commitment to preserving the religious and historical identity of the holy sites, ensuring sustainable development in accordance with the architectural guidelines of Makkah and the holy sites, reinforcing their spatial identity and enriching their cultural dimension. This approach includes activating historical sites within the holy sites and transforming them into added value for the residents of Makkah and visitors throughout the year, integrating historical heritage into sustainable development.
He concluded by noting that achieving the desired success is only possible through the integration of all entities involved in Hajj – including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Royal Commission, and all partners – forming the cornerstone for a safe and sustainable Hajj journey.
Specialized Projects and Operational Excellence
Kidana contributed to advancing the forum’s goals this year under the theme “Innovation and Sustainability in Serving the Guests of the Two Holy Mosques” through its pavilion, which showcased major innovation and sustainability projects in the holy sites. These development projects enhance the experience of pilgrims during their rituals while ensuring their safety and ease of movement.
Key initiatives included:
- Jabal al-Rahma Project, a vital site in the holy sites.
- Activation of Ain Zubaida, a landmark project highlighting its historical and cultural significance as one of the most important Islamic endowments.
- “Kidana Path” Project, a major initiative within the holy sites.
- “Kidana Station” Project, focusing on crowd organization and facilitating the movement of visitors to and from the Grand Mosque with integrated services.
Operational excellence was also highlighted through performance enhancement centers such as Malik – Tasleem – OCC Monitoring and Control, asset coding, and Kidana smart applications for mobile devices.
Prince of Al-Madinah Honors Kidana
Kidana’s participation reflected the integration of efforts among various sectors serving the guests of the Two Holy Mosques and its specialized contributions in sharing expertise and unifying research efforts to support innovation and sustainable development in the holy sites.
In recognition of its active role and outstanding participation, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, honored CEO Eng. Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Majmaj for enriching the main session by presenting Kidana’s efforts in supporting development projects in the holy sites with innovative solutions and sustainability plans. Kidana also participated as a strategic sponsor of the forum.