In a historic achievement, the Indian Haj Mission has been conferred two Labbaytum Awards by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for excellence in Haj coordination and communication. This marks the first time that the Indian mission has received these recognitions, which were presented during the Khitamahu Misk ceremony concluding the Haj season.
The awards, under the “Best Haj Coordination and Communication” category, recognise the seamless facilitation and welfare measures extended to approximately 1.75 lakh Indian pilgrims during Haj-2026. The Labbaytum Awards, given annually by the Saudi Haj Ministry to recognise excellence in pilgrim services, were presented to the Indian Haj Mission. The Labbaytum Awards are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence in Haj mission performance among the dozens of countries that send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia each year.
Consul General Fahad Suri and Consul Haj Sadaf Choudhary represented India at the event. Officials credited the awards to coordinated efforts in ensuring smooth facilitation and welfare of pilgrims throughout the season. The mission extended gratitude to the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs for their guidance and support. The Indian mission also thanked Saudi authorities, local service providers, and partner agencies for their cooperation in making the pilgrimage “comfortable, safe, and spiritually fulfilling” for Indian pilgrims.
Union Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, expressed satisfaction over the successful conduct of Haj-2026 while chairing a review meeting in New Delhi today. He credited the dedicated efforts of various Ministries, the Haj Committee of India, State Haj Committees, the Indian Haj Mission in Saudi Arabia, and Saudi authorities for ensuring a smooth, safe, and dignified pilgrimage for all.
Haj-2026 witnessed several pilgrim-centric initiatives that significantly enhanced comfort and convenience. These included the provision of sofa-cum-beds in Mina, high-speed railway travel for 62,500 pilgrims from Makkah to Madinah, hotel-style accommodation in Makkah, and the introduction of a 20-day Short Haj Package availed by around 10,500 pilgrims, primarily working professionals.
Technology-driven reforms such as integration with the Saudi Nusuk platform, online flight booking, and a robust digital grievance redressal system further strengthened transparency and service delivery. All Indian pilgrims in Madinah were accommodated in the Markazia area for better accessibility.
Despite regional geopolitical challenges, the operation was executed smoothly through 400 flights, supported by comprehensive medical facilities, dedicated teams, and round-the-clock assistance from the Indian Haj Mission.
During the review meeting, participants deliberated on leveraging artificial intelligence for future improvements, including multilingual voice-based support systems and real-time grievance tracking. Preparations for Haj-2027 are set to begin in soon, with the bilateral agreement expected to be signed on 7 November 2026. The Haj Policy-2027 will be announced shortly, paving the way for early application processes.
