Ashraqat Company for Mutawifs of Arab Countries Pilgrims was a major award winner at the recent Hajj and Umrah Services Conference & Exhibition (Hajj Expo 2025) in Jeddah, securing a total of eight accolades across its various divisions. The recognition highlights Ashraqat’s commitment to innovation and service excellence within the Hajj and Umrah sector, a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The event, which concluded at the Jeddah Superdome, drew industry leaders and stakeholders from across the Islamic world.
The awards spanned multiple categories, acknowledging Ashraqat’s initiatives in catering, digital services, hospitality, and spatial awareness. Dr. Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, presented the awards to company leadership, signaling the Ministry’s support for Ashraqat’s ongoing efforts to improve the pilgrim experience. The company also announced significant partnerships and agreements aimed at serving an estimated 150,000 pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj season.
Ashraqat’s Innovation in Hajj and Umrah Services
Ashraqat’s core company received the “Mubdi’oon (Innovators)” award in the Basic Services category for its “Thon Catering Challenge,” an initiative designed to elevate food service standards for pilgrims. Additionally, Ashraqat was recognized as a Strategic Success Partner of Hajj Expo 2025, acknowledging its substantial contribution to the event’s success. This recognition underscores the company’s growing influence within the industry.
Awards for Executive Arms
Ashraqat’s executive arm, Rihlat Wa Manafi Co., achieved significant recognition for its embrace of technology. It won the “Mubdi’oon” award in the Digital Services Ecosystem category for its artificial intelligence initiatives. Rihlat Wa Manafi also secured first place in the “Tawasul (Communication)” award for the Spatial Awareness Track and second place in the Digital Awareness Track, demonstrating its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance pilgrim safety and communication.
Meanwhile, Ikram Al-Dayf Co., Ashraqat’s hospitality services division, received two prestigious international awards from the International Finance Magazine (IFC Awards): “Best Hajj and Umrah Service Provider 2025” and “Most Innovative Hajj Tourism and Hospitality Services 2025.” These awards highlight Ikram Al-Dayf’s dedication to providing high-quality accommodation and support services to pilgrims.
The company’s large pavilion at Hajj Expo 2025, staffed by over 200 employees, served as a hub for showcasing these initiatives and forging new partnerships. Ashraqat signed agreements with 13 Hajj affairs offices and one tourism company, alongside 60 marketing agreements for direct pilgrimage services. The company also finalized nearly 50 memoranda of understanding with government entities to improve service quality and efficiency.
Beyond partnerships, Ashraqat launched several key initiatives at the Expo, including the “Empowerment of Workers Serving the Guests of Allah” program in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The company also unveiled the latest issue of Al-Nusk magazine and announced the winners of the CateringThon Challenge. Ikram Al-Dayf launched its digital platform and the second edition of the Ikram Excellence Award for hospitality centers, alongside new awareness campaigns.
Mohammed bin Hassan Ma’ajini, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ashraqat Co., expressed his satisfaction with the awards, attributing them to the collective efforts of the entire team. He emphasized the company’s commitment to utilizing modern technologies and artificial intelligence to develop religious tourism services in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
Looking ahead, Ashraqat plans to implement the agreements and initiatives announced at Hajj Expo 2025, focusing on training seasonal workers and enhancing services for pilgrims. The success of these efforts will be closely monitored as Saudi Arabia continues to invest in improving the Hajj and Umrah experience and aims to welcome a larger number of international pilgrims in the coming years. Further details regarding the implementation timeline and specific project milestones are expected to be released by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the following months.
