The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, represented by the center for licensing and training workers who serve pilgrims and Umrah performers, held the first training course outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for such workers who work during the Hajj season before traveling to Saudi Arabia. The first training program started in Malaysia; the aim is to further improve the level of services provided for pilgrims, facilitate their journey, and enrich their religious and cultural experience, in a bid to realize the goals of the programs set down in the Saudi Vision 2030. The program was held under the auspices of and attended by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, who is on an official visit to Malaysia. The delegation accompanying him included representatives of several government institutions and of the private sector in Saudi Arabia. The visit and training course have been done in accordance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. This first training course was held in cooperation with South-East Asian Countries Pilgrims Company (Mashariq); it will be followed by several other courses in other countries in order to train leaders of pilgrims groups in their own countries before the start of the Hajj season of 1444 Hijri-2023. The training program included a detailed explanation of pilgrims' journey, from the departure from their country and throughout all facilities (before, during and after performing the pilgrimage), during the performance of the rituals. The program also aims to raise awareness about all matters related to performing Hajj, as well as tafweej skills (group dispatch) and management of crowds during Hajj. The training course, which was held in Tabung Haji in Kuala Lumpur City, was attended by more than 30 pilgrim group leaders.
