Distributing one million educational books to pilgrims in Madinah in 2025

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As part of its ongoing efforts to serve pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by its branch in the Madinah region, announced the distribution of 1,060,492 copies of educational and guidance books to pilgrims during the year 2025. This initiative reinforces the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's leading role in caring for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and providing them with all the necessary means to perform their rituals with ease and tranquility in accordance with sound Islamic principles.

Linguistic diversity to serve a global message

The Ministry ensured that the materials provided were comprehensive and addressed the diverse backgrounds and nationalities of visitors to Madinah. The distributed materials included essential topics needed by pilgrims, most notably: “The Description of Umrah,” “Fortress of the Muslim,” and “Guide for the Pilgrim.” To guarantee the accurate and clear delivery of religious information, these publications were made available in eight major world languages: Arabic, English, Urdu, Turkish, Russian, Hindi, Uzbek, and Indonesian. This linguistic diversity reflects the Ministry’s understanding of the cultural diversity of visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque and helps remove language barriers that might hinder comprehension of the rituals.

Comprehensive coverage of access points and feelings

The distribution plan included strategic points covering all access points and areas frequented by pilgrims, to ensure they received the awareness materials upon arrival and during their movements. Distribution teams were stationed at the following locations:

Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah (for air arrivals).
Prince Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport in Yanbu Governorate.
Hajj City in the Khyber Governorate (for those arriving by land).
Miqat Dhu al-Hulayfah (Abar Ali), which is the location from which pilgrims and Umrah performers enter into the state of Ihram.
The major mosques and mosques west of the Prophet's Mosque.
The comprehensive service center is located in the courtyards surrounding the Prophet's Mosque.

Integration with the Kingdom's Vision 2030

These efforts cannot be separated from the broader context of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, specifically the "Guests of God Service Program," which aims to enrich the religious and cultural experience of pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah. The distribution of over one million copies is not merely a statistic, but rather an indicator of the high level of preparedness of the Kingdom's outreach infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of visitors. The Vision aims to reach 30 million Umrah pilgrims annually by 2030. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs plays a key role in this program by providing proactive awareness campaigns that minimize errors in performing rituals and contribute to the smooth flow of movement and crowd management through adherence to religious and organizational guidelines.

Expected impact and importance of religious awareness

This initiative is of paramount importance due to its direct impact on the visitor's experience. Obtaining accurate information from reliable sources prevents pilgrims from falling into innovations or violating Islamic law, thus making their worship more acceptable and spiritually enriching. Furthermore, providing booklets such as "Fortress of the Muslim" connects visitors with authentic supplications and invocations, strengthening their faith throughout their journey. These figures and efforts underscore the Kingdom's historical and unwavering commitment, from its founding by King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – to the prosperous era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and his Crown Prince, to dedicating all resources to serving Islam and Muslims.