Holy Sites Visit Program for Arab, Islamic Youth kicks off in Makkah

The tenth edition of the Holy Sites Visit Program for Arab and Islamic Youth, implemented annually by the Ministry of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chair of the Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers (ICYMS), kickedoff in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, with an opening ceremony held in Makkah Al-Mukarramah. with the participation of the OIC General Secretariat and the League of Arab States (LAS).

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Shams Alsaby, Director General of Youth Activities, welcomed the participants to this important program and indicated that during the upcoming ten days, about 144 young men and women and 65 head of delegation will visit the holy places in Makkah, Medina and Jeddah, interact with Saudi youth and learn about Saudi Arabia’s significant efforts in serving pilgrims from all over the world and developing the holy sites, its achievements in the field of youth empowerment, sports development, with opportunities to perform Umrah, visit sacred Islamic sites.

Mr. Ali Al-Hazani, Director of the Youth Development Department at the Sports and Youth Affairs Agency at the Ministry of Sports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reviewed the scheduled activities during the journey of the Holy Sites and urged the participants to reap the maximum benefit possible from the program and from the experience of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of empowering youth and enhancing their role in developing their societies and also called upon the participants to enhance and build networking relationships and acquaintance, pointing out that the ministry's team is fully ready to provide all possible support to all participants in order to achieve this.

Dr. Boubakari Maiga, head of the OIC Youth and Sports Department, led the OIC General Secretariat’s delegation to the program and expressed the General Secretariat’s profound gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sports for the sustainability of this important program, which unites young leaders from the OIC Member States, and thus contributes to the achievement of the OIC’s objectives in terms of youth empowerment.