New Institutional System Launched for Religious Services at the Two Holy Mosques
A new institutional system for religious services at Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah was launched in Makkah on 2 November 2026, corresponding to 22 Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH. Sheikh Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, launched the system, which brings together three institutions to fund, manage and deliver religious services at the Two Holy Mosques in a more organised and sustainable way.
Key Points:
- Launched: 2 November 2026, in Makkah, by Sheikh Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sudais.
- The three bodies: the Religious Affairs Endowment; the Maathir Haramain Charitable Foundation; and the Hidayat Al-Qasideen Company.
- The Endowment develops resources and investments to provide steady, sustainable funding.
- The Foundation manages funding, grants and projects, and oversees how they are carried out.
- The Company implements projects and runs services to set quality standards.
- Aim: clearer roles, stronger governance and accountability, and religious and educational programmes that last — including Qur’an, awareness and guidance programmes for visitors.
The three bodies and what each one does
Under the new arrangement, each body has a distinct job. The Religious Affairs Endowment focuses on growing resources and investments so that funding for religious services does not depend on one-off support. The Maathir Haramain Charitable Foundation sits in the middle: it manages financing, grants and projects and oversees their implementation. The Hidayat Al-Qasideen Company is the delivery arm, carrying out projects and operating services according to quality and efficiency standards. Together, the three are meant to turn individual initiatives into lasting programmes rather than short-term efforts.
Why the system was introduced
The system is built on a formal institutional framework: roles and powers are defined, transparency and accountability are strengthened, and planning, implementation, monitoring and performance measurement follow a set method. The stated goal is to improve the management of religious programmes and projects, enrich the experience of pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques, and support Qur’anic, awareness and guidance work — in line with the Kingdom’s wider Vision 2030 direction for institutional development. The launch reflects the leadership’s continued attention to the quality and sustainability of services at the two mosques, which welcome millions of worshippers and visitors each year.
What it means for pilgrims and visitors
For ordinary visitors, the change is institutional rather than ritual: it does not alter how prayers are performed. What it is designed to improve is what surrounds the visit — the guidance, education and awareness services available at the Two Holy Mosques, and the funding that keeps those services running over time. As the three bodies begin their work, pilgrims can expect religious programmes to be planned and delivered through a single, clearer system instead of separate, unconnected efforts.
Related reading: our Hajj guide and the Ramadan countdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was launched on 2 November 2026?
A new institutional system for religious services at Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, launched in Makkah by Sheikh Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sudais.
Which three bodies make up the system?
The Religious Affairs Endowment, the Maathir Haramain Charitable Foundation, and the Hidayat Al-Qasideen Company.
What does each body do?
The Endowment develops resources and investments for sustainable funding; the Foundation manages funding, grants and projects; the Company implements projects and delivers services to quality standards.
Does this change how prayers are performed?
No. The system concerns the funding, management and delivery of religious services and programmes; it does not change the prayers themselves.
Where was the launch announced?
Through the Saudi Press Agency, as reported on 1–2 November 2026.
Sources: Saudi Press Agency; Ajel English; Hajj Chronicles
