The announcement took place during the fifth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, a four-day event that brought together local and international experts to explore innovations and technologies designed to improve the Hajj and Umrah experience.

The initiative is a joint effort between the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the National Center for the Non-Profit Sector, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s drive to integrate professional expertise into volunteering work.

It seeks to empower organizations and entrepreneurs who serve pilgrims, ensuring high-quality services that align with the Kingdom’s broader vision for sustainable development and community participation.

By focusing on professional volunteering, the program encourages specialists from diverse fields to contribute their skills toward supporting nonprofit and Hajj-related organizations.

The initiative also aims to enhance institutional efficiency, strengthen human capabilities, and improve the overall management of Hajj services through modern methods and innovative technologies.

Key areas of focus include financial sustainability, developing business models for nonprofit organizations, and identifying investment opportunities that ensure long-term success.

Additionally, it emphasizes the integration of digital transformation and artificial intelligence to streamline operations, improve service delivery, and boost volunteer engagement across all sectors serving pilgrims.

This initiative also contributes directly to the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to increase volunteer participation in national development and position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in humanitarian service.

Through these efforts, the Kingdom continues to demonstrate its commitment to building a culture of giving, innovation, and collaboration.

The Hajj Conference served as a dynamic platform where experts, innovators, and decision-makers from around the world gathered to share ideas on enhancing the pilgrim experience.

Delegates from Islamic countries, government agencies, and private companies showcased new systems designed to ensure smoother, safer, and more efficient Hajj operations.

Exhibits featured advanced smart transport solutions, digital health monitoring systems, and crowd management technologies, all aimed at ensuring the safety and comfort of millions of pilgrims.

These innovations reflect Saudi Arabia’s ongoing investment in smart infrastructure and technological transformation to make every aspect of the pilgrimage seamless.

One of the most engaging panels at the conference focused on photography and documentary filmmaking, highlighting their crucial role in preserving the spiritual and cultural memory of Hajj.

Experts discussed how photography captures not only the rituals of Hajj but also the profound emotions, unity, and faith that define the experience.

Speakers noted that visual documentation serves as an educational bridge, connecting generations and promoting global understanding of the pilgrimage’s significance.

They emphasized developing Saudi photographers’ talents to tell compelling stories that reflect the values of peace, compassion, and humanity that lie at the heart of Hajj.

Another session explored Hajj’s cultural and social dimensions, focusing on symbols, traditions, and customs that shape the collective memory of Muslim societies.

Scholars and researchers stressed that Hajj is not only a religious obligation but also a cultural journey that deepens the shared consciousness of the Muslim world.

Participants highlighted the importance of documenting oral histories, preserving heritage artifacts, and promoting collaboration between universities, museums, and research institutions.

These partnerships are vital for safeguarding the legacy of Hajj and ensuring that its stories and spiritual essence continue to inspire future generations.

Museums and cultural centers play a significant role in preserving the human dimension of Hajj, displaying photographs, artifacts, and personal belongings that tell stories of faith and devotion.

These exhibits provide visitors with an emotional connection to the journey of pilgrims through time, reinforcing the universal message of unity and peace that Hajj embodies.

The new professional volunteering initiative, combined with Saudi Arabia’s continuous innovation in pilgrimage services, represents a forward-looking approach to global service and community empowerment.

It stands as a testament to the Kingdom’s dedication to excellence, compassion, and cultural preservation — values that continue to shape its role as the spiritual and humanitarian heart of the Muslim world.

Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural and scientific legacy is set to transcend Earth’s boundaries, with elements of its ancient and modern heritage included in Sanctuary on the Moon, a historic time capsule project supported by NASA and UNESCO.

The initiative aims to safeguard humanity’s collective knowledge, art, and science by storing them on the moon — a symbolic act of unity and endurance that celebrates the achievements of civilization.

French engineer Benoit Faiveley, the visionary leading the project, is visiting Saudi Arabia to collaborate with prominent cultural and scientific institutions in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

His mission: to select and curate the facets of Saudi heritage that best reflect the Kingdom’s timeless traditions and its remarkable transformation under Vision 2030.

“With the extraordinary cultural dynamism taking place under Saudi Vision 2030, now is the perfect time to collaborate with Saudi museums and art institutions,” said Faiveley. “Saudi Arabia’s voice will represent not only its people but also the broader Arab civilization — past, present, and future.”

The Sanctuary on the Moon project brings together a distinguished team of international experts, including astrophysicists, paleontologists, historians, engineers, and artists.

Their shared goal is to design and deliver a “cosmic message” — a permanent record of human civilization preserved beyond the reach of time.

The time capsule will consist of 24 sapphire discs engraved with images, data, and diagrams that encapsulate humanity’s scientific and cultural achievements. From art and music to mathematics and literature, each disc will tell part of humanity’s story.

Among them, Saudi Arabia’s contribution will shine as the cultural beacon of the Arab world, symbolizing a bridge between ancient wisdom and futuristic innovation.

Saudi heritage sites such as the rock art of Hima, the ancient city of Diriyah, and the AlUla archaeological wonders are among those being considered for inclusion.

These landmarks, along with Saudi Arabia’s growing number of UNESCO World Heritage sites — now numbering eight — reflect the Kingdom’s deep historical roots and commitment to preservation.

Faiveley described the lunar archive as “a cosmic hello to our descendants, or perhaps to other intelligent life forms.” The time capsule’s design ensures longevity, with sapphire chosen for its durability and resistance to cosmic radiation.

Each disc will store vast amounts of information in image and data form, ensuring that even millennia from now, future generations — or perhaps future civilizations — can uncover humanity’s story.

Scheduled to travel aboard NASA’s CT-4 mission, the time capsule will land on the moon’s southern polar region — an area seen as ideal for future inhabited lunar bases. This region, rich in scientific potential and water-ice reserves, symbolizes hope for humanity’s next frontier of exploration.

By incorporating Saudi culture into the lunar archive, the Sanctuary project acknowledges the Kingdom’s vital role in shaping global civilization and innovation.

It also highlights Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation under Vision 2030 — a national plan that balances progress with preservation, tradition with technology, and heritage with innovation.

“The initiative ensures that Saudi Arabia’s cultural legacy — from its prehistoric art to its modern vision — will remain accessible for millennia,” the project’s statement noted. “It’s not just a record of human knowledge; it’s a celebration of diversity, creativity, and shared destiny.”

For Saudi Arabia, this participation marks another milestone in its journey toward global cultural leadership. From hosting world-class museums and restoring historic sites to empowering its creative industries, the Kingdom continues to position itself as a hub of heritage, innovation, and inspiration.

As humanity looks beyond Earth, Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in the Sanctuary on the Moon ensures that when the story of humankind is told among the stars, the Kingdom’s voice — echoing its ancient past and visionary future — will forever resonate across time and space.