Saudi Press Agency Wins Media Excellence Award for Hajj 1445

The Presidency for Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has awarded the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) the inaugural Media Excellence Award for Hajj Season 1445 AH, recognizing SPA’s exceptional role in broadcasting the Arafat sermon to a global audience of 621 million listeners in multiple languages, officials announced during a closing ceremony in Makkah on July 4, 2024. The award, presented by Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, honors SPA’s professional contribution to highlighting Saudi leadership’s efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to enriching the Hajj experience for millions worldwide.

Context and Background

The Media Excellence Award, launched this year, is the first of its kind in the history of the recently modernized Presidency for Religious Affairs. It aims to encourage media innovation and creativity in conveying the enriching experience of pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques, while celebrating creative media work that produces humanized success stories from the Hajj season. The award underscores the Presidency’s dedication to supporting the official media system and media institutions in their efforts to amplify the moderate message of the Two Holy Mosques globally. This initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s broader strategy to enhance religious services and promote tolerance, moderation, and centrism, as part of Saudi Arabia’s leadership in serving Islam and Muslims.

Key Details

During the closing ceremony held at the Presidency’s headquarters in Makkah, Sheikh Dr. Al-Sudais commended the media collaboration between SPA and the Presidency, praising their efforts in enhancing the Hajj experience, creating a conducive worship environment, and amplifying the significance of the Hajj journey. He highlighted SPA’s success in broadcasting the Arafat sermon in multiple languages to 621 million listeners worldwide and supporting the broadcast of the Eid Al-Adha sermon to 20 million beneficiaries through digital platforms. The award was presented to Dr. Fahd Al Aqran, President of SPA, in the presence of several security leaders and Hajj partners.

Sheikh Dr. Al-Sudais emphasized that SPA is one of the most successful agencies globally, working to consecrate values of tolerance and moderation. He noted that the Presidency, in accordance with the directives of the wise leadership, has been keen to achieve excellence and quality in its religious services, empowering pilgrims to perform their rituals in a submissive environment. A study prepared by the Presidency on measuring pilgrim satisfaction concluded that it succeeded by 90.5 percent in achieving satisfaction, providing standardized, governed religious services professionally and institutionally.

Implications and Impact

The recognition of SPA underscores the critical role of media in showcasing Saudi Arabia’s efforts to serve the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims. SPA’s extensive broadcasts not only facilitated a global spiritual experience but also projected the Kingdom’s message of moderation and tolerance to an international audience. This achievement reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a leader in religious diplomacy and its commitment to leveraging media for positive global impact. The award also sets a precedent for future collaborations between media institutions and religious authorities, aiming to enhance the quality and reach of Hajj coverage, which is essential for the millions of Muslims who rely on these broadcasts for their spiritual journey.

Vision 2030 Alignment

This initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of enhancing the quality of life, promoting cultural and religious enrichment, and strengthening the Kingdom’s global role. By empowering media innovation and ensuring high-quality religious services, the Presidency for Religious Affairs contributes to Vision 2030’s objectives of fostering a vibrant society and a thriving economy. The successful Hajj season, marked by over 120 religious enrichment initiatives, 60 scientific programs, and the distribution of nearly one million Qurans, reflects the Kingdom’s dedication to continuous improvement and global leadership in serving pilgrims, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a beacon of moderate Islam and a hub for spiritual excellence.

20 Questions

Q1. What award did the Presidency for Religious Affairs grant to the Saudi Press Agency?

A1. The Presidency for Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque granted the Media Excellence Award for Hajj Season 1445 AH to the Saudi Press Agency, recognizing its professional role in highlighting the leadership’s efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims.

Q2. Who presented the award to SPA?

A2. Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, presented the award to Dr. Fahd Al Aqran, President of SPA, during the closing ceremony in Makkah.

Q3. When and where was the award ceremony held?

A3. The award ceremony was held on July 4, 2024, at the Presidency’s headquarters in Makkah, in the presence of several security leaders and partners in the success of Hajj.

Q4. Why was SPA honored with this award?

A4. SPA was honored for its professional role in highlighting the leadership’s efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims, including broadcasting the Arafat sermon in multiple languages to 621 million listeners worldwide and supporting the Eid Al-Adha sermon broadcast to 20 million beneficiaries.

Q5. How many listeners tuned into the Arafat sermon broadcast?

A5. The Arafat sermon was broadcast to 621 million listeners worldwide through SPA’s multi-language transmission, demonstrating the global reach of the Hajj experience.

Q6. What was the reach of the Eid Al-Adha sermon broadcast?

A6. The Eid Al-Adha sermon reached 20 million beneficiaries through SPA’s digital platforms, further extending the spiritual message of Hajj to a wider audience.

Q7. What is the significance of the Media Excellence Award?

A7. The award is the first of its kind in the history of the recently modernized Presidency for Religious Affairs, aimed at encouraging media innovation and celebrating creative media work that enriches the pilgrim experience and produces humanized success stories.

Q8. What did Sheikh Dr. Al-Sudais say about SPA’s global standing?

A8. He stated that SPA is one of the most successful agencies in the world, working to consecrate the values of tolerance, moderation, and centrism, and effectively conveying the moderate message of the Two Holy Mosques globally.

Q9. How did the Presidency measure pilgrim satisfaction?

A9. The Presidency conducted a study measuring pilgrim satisfaction with religious services during Hajj Season 1445 AH, which concluded that it succeeded by 90.5 percent in achieving satisfaction and providing standardized, governed services professionally and institutionally.

Q10. What initiatives were launched during Hajj Season 1445 AH?

A10. Over 120 religious enrichment initiatives and 60 scientific programs were launched, along with the distribution of nearly one million Qurans, over half a million umbrellas, half a million carpets, and more than a million religious books and translated interpretations of the Quran.

Q11. How did SPA contribute to enhancing the Hajj experience?

A11. SPA enhanced the Hajj experience by broadcasting the Arafat and Eid Al-Adha sermons in multiple languages, producing specialized videos about the Two Holy Mosques, and highlighting the presidency’s religious services, thus creating globally enriching content.

Q12. What role did media collaboration play in the success of Hajj?

A12. Media collaboration between SPA and the Presidency was crucial in conveying the moderate message of the Two Holy Mosques, creating a conducive worship environment, and amplifying the significance of the Hajj journey to a global audience.

Q13. Who attended the award ceremony?

A13. Several security leaders and partners in the success of Hajj attended the ceremony, demonstrating widespread recognition of the collaborative efforts that made the Hajj season successful.

Q14. What did Sheikh Dr. Al-Sudais emphasize about the Presidency’s goals?

A14. He emphasized the Presidency’s keenness to achieve excellence and quality in religious services, empower pilgrims to perform rituals in a submissive environment, and maximize the Kingdom’s leading moderate religious role in the world.

Q15. How does the award reflect Saudi Arabia’s leadership?

A15. The award reflects Saudi Arabia’s leadership by recognizing media efforts that showcase the Kingdom’s dedication to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims, and by promoting the moderate message of Islam to a global audience.

Q16. What was the satisfaction rate of pilgrims with religious services?

A16. The satisfaction rate was 90.5 percent, according to the study prepared by the Presidency, indicating successful provision of standardized, governed religious services that meet global quality standards.

Q17. How many Qurans and religious materials were distributed?

A17. Nearly one million Qurans, over half a million umbrellas, half a million carpets, and more than a million religious books and translated interpretations of the Quran were distributed to pilgrims during the Hajj season.

Q18. What is the significance of translating the Arafat sermon?

A18. Translating the Arafat sermon into multiple languages allowed SPA to reach 621 million listeners worldwide, enabling non-Arabic speakers to fully engage with the spiritual message of Hajj and enhancing the global impact of the pilgrimage.

Q19. How does the award encourage media innovation?

A19. The award encourages media innovation by celebrating creative media work related to enriching the pilgrim experience and producing humanized success stories, thereby motivating media institutions to strive for excellence in covering religious events.

Q20. How does this initiative align with Vision 2030?

A20. This initiative aligns with Vision 2030 by enhancing the quality of life, promoting cultural and religious enrichment, and strengthening the Kingdom’s global role, while empowering media innovation and ensuring high-quality religious services for pilgrims.

---