Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah protect him, Umm Al-Qura University, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, is to organize the 21st Scientific Forum under the slogan "Digital Transformation in Next Year's Hajj, Umrah and Visit System". Therefore, it calls on researchers from Saudi universities and those interested from different sectors to participate in the forum with working papers and scientific papers that serve the Hajj and Umrah sectors and enrich the experience of the pilgrims.

The university has started receiving working papers and abstracts through the electronic forum portal. The deadline for receiving scientific abstracts is 14 Muharram 1443 A.H., while the deadline for accepting full scientific papers is 13 Rabi` Al-Awwal 1443 A.H. It should be noted that all accepted papers will be published in the scientific record of the forum, and distinguished papers will be selected from them for inclusion in the special issue of the university's scientific journals.

The Dean of the Institute, Dr. Turki Al-Amro, stated that the forum is an opportunity for those interested along with researchers and decision-makers to submit research related to Hajj and Umrah and exchange views on them according to the latest technologies and scientific practices, in order to contribute to the development of services provided to the visitors of the Sacred House for Hajj and Umrah. He emphasized the university's keenness to cooperate with various sectors to create the appropriate infrastructure for digital transformation, expand the provision of its services, and automate its transactions, side by side with developing appropriate technical solutions to the requirements of development, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision for the National Transformation Program.

Moreover, Dr. Al-Amro said that the forum focuses on strengthening the governance of digital transformation in the Hajj, Umrah and visitation system by discussing the legislation, regulations, and digital infrastructure that support it, reviewing its role in economic, environmental and social sustainability, as well as employing it to improve the experience of the pilgrims and facilitating their access to the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites. In addition, the training of efficient personnel in the digital transformation processes will be intensified, decision-making processes will be developed, and necessary services will be provided. This is in order to build the system on digitization, automation, and data analysis, and use this to increase the operational efficiency of the various operations in the Hajj and Umrah system.

**To visit the forum portal, click here.