First-ever Haj, Umrah exhibition held at OCEC
MUSCAT: Oman inaugurated its first-ever Haj and Umrah Exhibition on Sunday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), under the auspices of Shaikh Al Fadhl bin Mohammed al Harthy, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers. The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including Dr Mohammed bin Said al Maamari, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs; Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information; and Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health.
Organised by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs (MoARA), the two-day event was opened by Ahmed bin Saleh al Rashdi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, along with several officials from various government departments.
Marking a significant milestone, the exhibition brings together over 30 public and private entities from Oman and abroad, including Haj and Umrah service providers. It offers a unified platform to strengthen collaboration, encourage innovation and enhance service quality for pilgrims.
The exhibition also features the 11th edition of the 'Nusuk' activities, which engage visitors through interactive displays using virtual reality, robotics, and other technologies to simulate pilgrimage rituals.
Ali al Hattali from the Ministry's Haj and Umrah section shared insights with the Observer, noting that last year's virtual and physical engagements benefited over 11,000 people.
'At this exhibition, we not only offer services - we share a vision of responsibility. We walk with our pilgrims on a journey of reassurance and spiritual peace,' he said, expressing optimism for a higher turnout this year.
The Ministry has been proactive in improving systems for the 1446 AH Haj season. A recent agreement between Oman and Saudi Arabia aims to streamline pilgrimage arrangements, focusing on logistics, service quality and mutual cooperation.
Oman's electronic registration system, awarded the 'Laytim Excellence Award' by Saudi Arabia for being the best among 76 countries, received over 40,000 applications this season. Of these, 14,000 pilgrims were selected based on strict eligibility criteria. Air travel will be via Jeddah and Medina, while land pilgrims will pass through the Rub Al Khali border.
Special initiatives at the exhibition include:
Awqaf Bait al Rabat: Supporting over 150 low-income pilgrims with over RO 150,000.
Mobile Vehicles for the Elderly: Assisting over 450 pilgrims in performing Tawaf and Sa'i.
Electronic Tracking Bracelets: Enhancing safety for elderly and medically vulnerable pilgrims.
Expanded Land Port Delegation Plan: Reducing bus waiting times from four hours to just 45 minutes.
Visitors can explore these services at the booths of participating sponsors such as Sohar Islamic, Meethaq Islamic Banking, Ahli Islamic Bank, Omran Group, Badr Al Samaa Hospitals Group, Omantel, and the Ashraqat Foundation.
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