Fifth edition of Umrah event takes place in London
LONDON: The fifth edition of an event that connects the UK travel and tourism market to leading Umrah suppliers from Saudi Arabia took place in central London on Sunday.
Umrah+ Connect brought together travel professionals, hoteliers, hotel booking platforms, and industry leaders with the aim of improving the future of faith-based travel and pilgrim experiences.
Rashid Mohammed, the organizer of Umrah+ Connect, said a number of new products and services were on display at the event from exhibitors including TAIBA, MCDC Umrah and Tourism, Hilton Hotel & Convention Jabal Omar Makkah, MAQAM, and umrahbookings.com.
Mohammed told Arab News: “We’re seeing a change in the way that Umrah packages are being curated and there are various new products and services here on display today to show that there’s a diverse range of offerings for pilgrims who visit the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
“We want to continue growing Umrah+ Connect to be that platform where people can collaborate, connect, and deliver some fantastic products and services for pilgrims in the future.”
One such offering that caught the eye of many visitors was the recently launched Rixos Obhur Jeddah Resort and Villas, which is described as the first all-inclusive, beach-front resort in Saudi Arabia.
Located in Jeddah’s Obhur Bay, it offers 250 units, including 176 rooms and suites, and 74 private villas.
Hassan Ahdab, chief hospitality operations officer for Taiba Investments Company, told Arab News that the resort would particularly appeal to British pilgrims performing Umrah with young children.
Featuring a large club where parents can leave their children to be entertained and looked after by professionals, the resort also has male and female spas, marina access, direct Red Sea access, swimming pools, gyms, and indoor and seaside dining options.
Ahdab said that British pilgrims could perform Umrah and then “enjoy a few days’ stay at the resort before heading to Madinah” or alternatively visit first “before driving to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.”
Junal Chowdhury, business development and innovation executive at HMS Global Business Limited, said the Umrah event was the “perfect networking opportunity” and gave a good insight into the Umrah travel industry.
Chowdhury added: “This is also the perfect opportunity for us, and even small to medium-sized enterprises, to get involved and try and build a relationship and network to get right in the middle of Saudi Vision 2030.”
