RIYADH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a training program for members of Hajj mission offices and group leaders ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage season. The program’s 11 tracks are designed to strengthen participants’ leadership and operational skills to help them better serve pilgrims from their home countries, according to a Saudi Press Agency report. The program will be held on the sidelines of the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition, organized under the patronage of King Salman, in Jeddah from Nov. 8 to 11. Organized by the ministry in partnership with the Pilgrim Experience Program, the program brings together more than 520 government, private and nonprofit organizations from Saudi Arabia and abroad, with participants from more than 150 countries. The training tracks cover key Hajj operations, including transport, housing and accommodation, catering, crowd management, healthcare and services at the holy sites. They also cover preparation and readiness, customer service, effective communication, media, hospitality center leadership and group leadership. Trainees will develop skills in planning, organization, supervision and decision-making. They will also learn to manage risks, crises and emergencies and handle reports according to established procedures. A train-the-trainer model will enable participants to transfer these skills to Hajj affairs […]