Jeddah: Senior Indian and Saudi officials have held a series of meetings focusing on the technical integration of Haj portals and using emerging technologies to improve services for Indian pilgrims, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah said.
Meetings with Saudi digital and Haj authorities
Dr Srivatsa Krishna, Secretary of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, led the Indian delegation and met senior officials of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah to discuss coordination and digital interoperability between the two countries' pilgrim management systems. The discussions in Jeddah included officials responsible for planning and digital transformation as well as operational teams involved with the Nusuk Masar platform.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah posted on X that Dr Krishna and Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri met H.E. Abdulaziz Al Mathami, Deputy Minister for Planning and Digital Transformation, Ministry of Haj and Umrah, and the Nusuk Masar team to explore technical linkages between Indian and Saudi Haj portals.
“They held discussions on technical integration of Indian and Saudi Haj portals, and leveraging emerging technologies to enhance coordination, streamline services, and further improve the Haj experience for Indian pilgrims,” the Consulate General wrote on X.
Operational arrangements and pilgrim welfare
In addition to digital matters, the delegation engaged with other senior Saudi officials on operational arrangements aimed at improving the on‑ground experience in Madinah and for Haj‑2027. Meetings covered areas such as accommodation, transportation and overall coordination for Indian pilgrims.
Dr Krishna and the delegation also met Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahim Wazzan, Deputy Minister for Haj and Umrah, and held what the Consulate described as constructive discussions on enhancing pilgrim experience in Madinah, with particular emphasis on accommodation, transport and other essential pilgrimage arrangements.
Earlier in the visit, the delegation met Abdulfattah S. Mashat, Vice Minister for Haj and Umrah. The Consulate noted that discussions covered arrangements for the upcoming Hajj‑2027, focusing on strengthening cooperation and enhancing coordination to ensure a smooth and comfortable Haj for Indian pilgrims.
The team also travelled to Riyadh where Dr Krishna met Rumaih Mohammed Al‑Rumaih, Vice Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, to discuss arrangements for Haj flights and other transport facilities for Indian nationals.
What the technical integration could mean for Indian pilgrims
While detailed technical specifications were not released, talks on integrating Haj portals imply work on data sharing, process alignment and possibly real‑time coordination between Indian agencies and Saudi authorities. For Indian pilgrims this could translate into:
- Smoother processing: better synchronisation of pilgrim records and e‑permission systems between Indian portals and Saudi platforms.
- Improved coordination: more seamless communication on accommodation, transport and scheduled events in Madinah and Mecca.
- Use of emerging technologies: potential deployment of digital tools to manage pilgrim flows, reduce queues and enhance safety — though specific technologies were not detailed.
Bilateral emphasis on preparedness
The meetings reflect a bilateral emphasis on pre‑emptive coordination ahead of Hajj‑2027 to ensure logistical readiness and to mitigate potential problems arising from large pilgrim movements. The involvement of Saudi planning and digital transformation officials suggests that the talks covered not only policy but also technical and operational implementation.
| Indian delegation | Saudi counterpart | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Srivatsa Krishna, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs | Abdulaziz Al Mathami, Deputy Minister for Planning and Digital Transformation | Technical integration of Haj portals; Nusuk Masar engagement |
| — | Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahim Wazzan, Deputy Minister for Haj and Umrah | Enhancing pilgrim experience in Madinah (accommodation, transport) |
| — | Abdulfattah S. Mashat, Vice Minister for Haj and Umrah | Arrangements for Hajj‑2027 |
| — | Rumaih Mohammed Al‑Rumaih, Vice Minister of Transport and Logistics Services | Haj flight and transport facilities discussions |
Officials emphasised strengthening cooperation and improving coordination to help ensure a safe and comfortable pilgrimage. The Consulate said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to these objectives.
Details on timelines, data governance, privacy protections or exact technical mechanisms for portal integration were not disclosed in the Consulate's posts. Further announcements are likely as authorities finalise technical arrangements ahead of the next Hajj season.
