Saudi Arabia to Host Global Research Forum on Hajj, Holy Mosques History in November

Scholars to explore digital documentation, cultural heritage, and Saudi Arabia’s role in Islamic legacy

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Saudi Arabia will, in November 2025, host an international academic forum dedicated to exploring the history, culture, and architectural evolution of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques, in a bid to preserve and document one of Islam’s most revered traditions through sustainable and digital means.

The event, spearheaded by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), is scheduled for Jumada al-Awwal 1447H. It will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Guests of God Service Program.

Titled “Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques: History, Culture, Architecture – Toward Sustainable Knowledge and Digital Documentation”, the high-level forum will assemble scholars, researchers, and digital experts from around the world. It seeks to open new frontiers in the documentation of the sacred journey, blending traditional scholarship with modern technology.

The event will focus on five main themes: Saudi Arabia’s role in serving the Two Holy Mosques; Hajj and the holy sites in historical texts and travel accounts; architecture and visual identity of the Two Holy Mosques; Hajj in cultural memory and social heritage; and modern technologies in Hajj documentation.

The forum aims to foster cross-disciplinary research in fields such as history, Islamic arts, architecture, geography, literature, and digital humanities.

Paper submissions are already being accepted, with the deadline set for the end of Rabi al-Awwal 1447H. Submissions will go through a peer review and revision process, with final approvals expected by mid-November.

The Kingdom, through initiatives such as this, continues to position itself as a leader in Islamic heritage preservation, academic inquiry, and digital transformation of sacred narratives.

Source: Saudi Gazette

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