Saudi Ministry Distributes 900,000 Hajj and Umrah Guides

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has distributed more than 900,000 copies of the book “Guide to Hajj and Umrah Rites” and a summarized leaflet on Umrah rituals across seven global languages, in an initiative funded by the Arees Endowment Foundation and the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Charity Foundation and provided to Umrah performers arriving in the Kingdom during Ramadan 1446 AH. The distribution was carried out through the ministry’s General Secretariat for Islamic Awareness in Hajj, Umrah, and Visitation, reflecting a sustained national effort to ensure that every pilgrim who reaches the holy sites receives clear, authentic guidance on performing their rites correctly.

The scale of the program — nearly one million printed items delivered in a single season — underscores how seriously the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia treats its role as custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The materials were made available to Umrah performers as they arrived for worship during the blessed month of Ramadan, one of the busiest periods of the Islamic calendar. The initiative forms part of the ministry’s broader mission to serve worshippers, in line with the directives of the wise leadership to provide the best possible guidance services and to facilitate the performance of rituals in accordance with the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

Context and Background

Why does a simple guidebook matter so much in the modern pilgrimage experience? Every year, millions of Muslims from every continent travel to Makkah and Madinah, many of them first-time visitors who may not speak Arabic and may be unfamiliar with the sequence of rites they are required to perform. The “Guide to Hajj and Umrah Rites,” produced by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, is designed precisely for this audience: it explains the steps of pilgrimage in accessible language, corrects common misunderstandings, and offers general religious knowledge that helps worshippers focus on the spiritual purpose of their journey.

The General Secretariat for Islamic Awareness in Hajj, Umrah, and Visitation is the specialized body within the ministry responsible for this outreach. Its work spans printed publications, digital content, multilingual support desks, and on-the-ground guidance at entry points and holy sites. The distribution of more than 900,000 copies during Ramadan 1446 AH was supported and funded by two philanthropic partners — the Arees Endowment Foundation and the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Charity Foundation — illustrating the collaborative model through which Saudi Arabia delivers services to pilgrims, combining government coordination with private and charitable contribution.

The seven-language format is significant. It means that a pilgrim from Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, or the Americas can read the same accurate guidance as an Arabic speaker, reducing the risk of error and the influence of unofficial or unreliable sources. By standardizing the message and placing it directly in the hands of worshippers, the ministry strengthens religious awareness and helps ensure that rituals are performed correctly, safely, and with peace of mind.

Key Details of the Distribution

What exactly was provided, and to whom? According to the official announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry distributed more than 900,000 copies of the book “Guide to Hajj and Umrah Rites” together with a summarized leaflet on Umrah rituals. The materials were offered in seven global languages and were directed to Umrah performers arriving for Umrah during Ramadan 1446 AH. The funding was provided by the Arees Endowment Foundation and the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Charity Foundation, both of which supported the printing and distribution effort.

The ministry explained that these dawah efforts aim to enhance religious awareness among Umrah performers, guide them in performing their rituals correctly, and provide them with general religious knowledge. The initiative aligns with the ministry’s noble mission to serve worshippers, following the directives of the wise leadership in ensuring their care and providing the best guidance services to facilitate their rituals in accordance with the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

Ramadan is a particularly important window for such outreach. The month attracts a large influx of Umrah performers, many of whom combine worship with a first encounter with the Kingdom. Reaching them at the moment of arrival — at airports, border crossings, and designated reception areas — allows the ministry to address questions immediately and to set a tone of calm, well-organized worship. The summarized leaflet complements the fuller guide by offering a quick-reference version for pilgrims who need essential steps at a glance.

International and Regional Impact

How does a Saudi guidance program resonate beyond the Kingdom’s borders? The answer lies in the global composition of the pilgrim community. Umrah performers arrive from dozens of countries, and the printed guides travel home with them, reinforcing the Kingdom’s reputation for hospitality, organization, and religious care. For many international Muslims, the quality of guidance received in Makkah and Madinah shapes their overall impression of Saudi Arabia and of its stewardship of the holy sites.

Regional observers also note the soft-power dimension of this work. By investing in accurate, multilingual religious education, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance supports moderate, mainstream understanding of Islamic practice and counters misinformation. The involvement of charitable endowments such as the Arees Endowment Foundation and the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Charity Foundation demonstrates that this effort is a shared national project, drawing on both public institutions and private philanthropy to serve guests of the Almighty.

The seven-language distribution also has practical diplomatic value. Pilgrims who can read guidance in their own language are less likely to rely on unverified sources, and more likely to complete their rites correctly and return home with a positive account of their experience. That, in turn, strengthens people-to-people ties between Saudi Arabia and Muslim communities worldwide.

Economic and Strategic Significance

What does this initiative reveal about Saudi Arabia’s strategic priorities? At its core, the distribution of 900,000 guides is an investment in the pilgrimage ecosystem — a system that is central to the Kingdom’s religious standing and increasingly important to its economic diversification. A well-informed pilgrim moves more smoothly through airports, hotels, transport networks, and the Grand Mosque, reducing congestion and improving the experience for everyone. That operational efficiency is essential as the Kingdom continues to expand capacity for Hajj and Umrah.

The program also reflects the broader modernization of pilgrim services. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in digital platforms, expanded visa pathways, and upgraded infrastructure around the holy sites, all aimed at making the journey easier and more accessible. Printed guides in seven languages work alongside these digital tools, ensuring that even pilgrims with limited connectivity or technological familiarity receive the support they need. The combination of high-tech and high-touch service is a hallmark of the Kingdom’s approach.

Charitable funding adds another layer of value. By partnering with endowments and charity foundations, the ministry multiplies the reach of its budget and channels private generosity into a public good. This model of cooperation between government, religious institutions, and philanthropists is one that Saudi Arabia has refined over decades and continues to strengthen.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does a religious guidance booklet connect to Vision 2030? The answer is that Vision 2030 is not only about economic transformation; it is also about elevating the quality of life, deepening the Kingdom’s role as a global destination for Muslims, and showcasing Saudi Arabia’s capacity to host millions of guests with excellence. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance plays a direct role in that vision by ensuring that pilgrims receive world-class spiritual and practical support.

The distribution of more than 900,000 copies of the “Guide to Hajj and Umrah Rites,” funded by the Arees Endowment Foundation and the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Charity Foundation, is a concrete example of Vision 2030 in action: a government-led, partnership-supported, multilingual initiative that serves worshippers and enhances the Kingdom’s reputation. As Saudi Arabia continues to welcome growing numbers of Umrah performers, such efforts will remain essential to fulfilling the leadership’s directive to care for pilgrims and to facilitate their rituals in accordance with the Holy Quran and Sunnah. The Kingdom’s long-term vision is clear — to remain the world’s most trusted and capable host for the guests of the Almighty, and to set the global standard for pilgrimage services.

20 Questions

Q1. What did the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance distribute?

A1. The ministry distributed more than 900,000 copies of the book “Guide to Hajj and Umrah Rites” and a summarized leaflet on Umrah rituals, providing them to Umrah performers during Ramadan 1446 AH.

Q2. How many copies were distributed in total?

A2. More than 900,000 copies were distributed, according to the official announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, covering both the full guide and the summarized Umrah leaflet.

Q3. In how many languages were the materials available?

A3. The guides and leaflets were provided in seven global languages, ensuring that pilgrims from different regions could read accurate guidance in a language they understand.

Q4. Who funded the distribution?

A4. The distribution was supported and funded by the Arees Endowment Foundation and the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Charity Foundation, two philanthropic partners that contributed to printing and delivering the materials.

Q5. Which body within the ministry carried out the distribution?

A5. The General Secretariat for Islamic Awareness in Hajj, Umrah, and Visitation, a specialized body of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, organized and executed the distribution.

Q6. When did the distribution take place?

A6. The materials were distributed to Umrah performers arriving for Umrah during Ramadan 1446 AH, a period that attracts a large number of pilgrims to the Kingdom.

Q7. What is the purpose of the “Guide to Hajj and Umrah Rites”?

A7. The guide aims to enhance religious awareness among Umrah performers, help them perform their rituals correctly, and provide general religious knowledge in line with the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

Q8. Why is Ramadan a key period for this initiative?

A8. Ramadan brings a significant influx of Umrah performers from around the world, making it an ideal time to reach pilgrims at arrival points with clear, accurate guidance.

Q9. Does the initiative align with the leadership’s directives?

A9. Yes. The ministry stated that the initiative follows the directives of the wise leadership to ensure the care of worshippers and provide the best guidance services to facilitate their rituals.

Q10. What is the role of the General Secretariat for Islamic Awareness?

A10. It is responsible for raising religious awareness among pilgrims through publications, multilingual materials, and guidance services connected to Hajj, Umrah, and Visitation.

Q11. How does this benefit international pilgrims?

A11. International pilgrims receive accurate guidance in their own languages, helping them perform rituals correctly and reducing reliance on unofficial or unreliable sources of information.

Q12. What is the summarized leaflet about?

A12. The summarized leaflet covers Umrah rituals in a concise format, offering a quick-reference guide for pilgrims who need essential steps at a glance.

Q13. How does the initiative reflect Saudi Arabia’s care for pilgrims?

A13. It demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to serving worshippers by providing practical, multilingual religious guidance funded through both public and charitable channels.

Q14. What role do charitable foundations play in this effort?

A14. The Arees Endowment Foundation and the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Charity Foundation funded the printing and distribution, showing how private philanthropy supports national pilgrimage services.

Q15. Does the program support moderate religious understanding?

A15. Yes. By distributing accurate, mainstream guidance based on the Holy Quran and Sunnah, the ministry helps counter misinformation and promotes sound religious practice.

Q16. How does this initiative improve the pilgrim experience?

A16. Well-informed pilgrims move more smoothly through airports, transport, and the holy sites, reducing confusion and allowing them to focus on worship.

Q17. Is the distribution connected to Vision 2030?

A17. Yes. It supports Vision 2030 goals of elevating quality of life, enhancing the Kingdom’s role as a global destination for Muslims, and hosting pilgrims with excellence.

Q18. What languages are likely included among the seven?

A18. While the official announcement did not list them individually, the seven global languages are chosen to reflect the main regions from which Umrah performers arrive.

Q19. How does this compare with previous years’ efforts?

A19. The distribution of more than 900,000 copies represents a large-scale, sustained effort consistent with the ministry’s ongoing mission to serve worshippers during peak seasons.

Q20. What is the long-term goal of such programs?

A20. The goal is to ensure every pilgrim receives proper guidance, to maintain the Kingdom’s standing as the world’s most trusted host for the guests of the Almighty, and to support Vision 2030.

Reader Feedback

We value your thoughts. Please share your feedback on this article.

Name *

Message *

Your feedback helps us improve our coverage.