Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) is preparing to host a major scholarly forum in November 2025, focusing on the history of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques, as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to document and preserve one of Islam’s most sacred rites and historical legacies.

Scheduled for Jumada al-Awwal 1447H, the event is titled “Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques: History, Culture, Architecture – Toward Sustainable Knowledge and Digital Documentation.”

It will be organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Guests of God Service Program, two of the Kingdom’s leading entities in documenting the history of the holy sites.

The forum aims to advance academic research by bringing together scholars from various disciplines — including history, architecture, Islamic arts, literature, geography, media, and digital studies — to explore new perspectives and methodologies for preserving and narrating the legacy of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques.

A key goal is to highlight how emerging technologies can enrich documentation efforts and provide immersive digital experiences that enhance public awareness and global academic collaboration.

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 Foundation has begun accepting research papers, with the submission window open until the end of Rabi al-Awwal 1447H.

The submitted work will undergo a one-month peer review, followed by a one-month revision period, with accepted papers to be announced two weeks after final amendments.