Umrah and Ziyarah Forum returns under royal patronage

The Umrah and Ziyarah Forum (UZF) will return for its second edition from April 14 - 16, 2025 (16 - 18 Shawwal 1446H), at the King Salman International Convention Center in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Madinah Region, and presented by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, UZF 2025 will bring together over 150 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors from more than 70 countries.

The three-day gathering will spotlight technology, healthcare, airlines, mobility, and transport, alongside new themes aimed at elevating the Umrah experience. The forum will include a conference, an exhibition, and workshops, showcasing advancements in hospitality, sustainable practices, and innovative pilgrimage services that adhere to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. 

The 2025 edition marks the first time UZF is organized by Tahaluf, a joint venture between Informa, a UK-based business intelligence, and exhibitions group, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and the Events Investment Fund. 

Faariss Khalil, exhibition director at Tahaluf, said that UZF 2025 is more than a forum, rather it is a movement dedicated to elevating the Umrah and Ziyarah journey through collaboration, investment, and innovation. 

Attendees can expect focused conference sessions on advancing air travel, transforming pilgrimage services through technology, enhancing visitor care, and expanding tourism opportunities. A number of workshops will address topics such as building resilient operational systems, universal design for pilgrimage housing, and sustainable approaches to year-round tourism.

The event will feature speakers from the travel, technology, and development sectors, including executives from global tech firms, advisory groups, and travel platforms.

The exhibition will spotlight solutions across transport, accommodation, fintech, and healthcare, offering attendees a firsthand look at AI-powered travel tools, sustainable lodging concepts, and other innovations aimed at streamlining the Umrah journey for millions of pilgrims worldwide. 

Among the forum’s sponsors are the Saudi Tourism Authority, Rua Al Madinah Holding, Al Rajhi for Umrah, Tasheer, Knowledge Economic City, SAR, Taibah Investments (Makarem), Tawuniya Insurance, Movenpick, and Mansky. These sponsors plan to introduce innovative partnerships aimed at strengthening Umrah-related services and facilitating cross-border collaboration.

More than 122 million worshippers visited Makkah and Madinah during the month of Ramadan alone in 2025, underscoring the need for efficient services. UZF 2025 is expected to unveil new business and investment opportunities against the backdrop of an influx of visitors to Makkah and Madinah.