In brief
During the sixth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition, opening on November 8, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language announced three projects aimed at improving communication for pilgrims and service providers. The initiatives—a pilgrimage‑specific language assessment test, a specialized textbook in the Arabic for Specific Purposes series, and a comprehensive Hajj and Umrah terminology dictionary—were developed in partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The academy seeks to enhance language services for pilgrims and those working in Hajj and Umrah contexts.
Jeddah, November 6, 2026 – The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) announced at a press briefing that it will unveil three new language projects during the next Hajj Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to open on November 8. The initiatives were revealed as part of the academy’s participatory pavilion, which will showcase language‑related efforts for the upcoming Hajj and Umrah seasons.
The first project is a Hajj and Umrah language assessment test, designed specifically for pilgrimage‑related contexts. The test will gauge the language competencies of pilgrims and the staff who interact with them, aiming to identify gaps and improve targeted support. According to the announcement, the test is a first‑of‑its‑kind assessment tool that aligns with the linguistic challenges faced during Hajj and Umrah.
The second initiative is the addition of a new book to the academy’s Arabic for Specific Purposes series: the Arabic for Hajj and Umrah textbook. Developed to nurture practical communication skills, the textbook will provide learners with specialized vocabulary, cultural insights, and scenario‑based exercises tailored to the Hajj and Umrah environment.
The third project – and perhaps the most expansive – is an updated edition of the Hajj and Umrah terminology dictionary. Partnered with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the new dictionary contains 488 Arabic entries, each accompanied by translations into English, French, Persian, Turkish, Malay, and Urdu. The expanded terminology set totals more than 3,400 entries across the six languages, according to the academy’s release.
"The collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah underscores our commitment to enhancing communication for pilgrims and service providers alike," said a spokesperson for KSGAAL, according to the Saudi Press Agency announcement. The pulse of the projects, the comments added, reflects an institutional desire to standardise language resources across multiple languages that pilgrims might encounter.
Although the details of the key functionalities of the assessment test and the textbook remain broad in the press release, the information highlighted the focus on pilgrimage‑specific content, and that both projects will be released in time for the 2027 Hajj season. The dictionary, meanwhile, will be made available for immediate use by ministries, mosques, and travel agencies that serve pilgrims worldwide.
While the announcement outlines the scope, it does not specify the timelines for the rollout of the assessment test or the textbook, nor does it detail the exact distribution channels for the updated dictionary. Additionally, the press release does not disclose any pilot studies or feedback loops that will validate the effectiveness of these tools before they are fully introduced to the field.
Overall, the projects represent a concerted effort by KSGAAL and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to improve linguistic support across the many languages spoken by pilgrims and those working in Hajj and Umrah services. The initiative signals a move toward a more coordinated, multilingual approach to religious tourism and service provision, though timelines and implementation strategies remain to be clarified.
Sources have not highlighted any uncertainties or debates regarding the projects as described.
