By Abdulrazaq Auwal Reports
Nigeria is set to host the 2026 Hajj–Umrah Expo in Abuja, a landmark international event aimed at enhancing the planning, coordination, and delivery of Hajj and Umrah operations in the country.
The expo which is set to take place from January 28 to 30, also seeks to position Nigeria as a regional hub for pilgrimage and faith-based tourism in West Africa.
Organized by the Global Business and Investment Partnerships Forum (GBIPF), Nigeria, the event will convene key stakeholders, including government agencies, private operators, international partners, investors, scholars, and intending pilgrims.
The theme, “Enhancing the Pilgrimage Experience through Knowledge, Access, and Community,” underscores the expo’s focus on governance, service delivery, investment, and innovation across the Hajj and Umrah value chain.
Dr. Aisha Ahmed-Shitu, Chairperson and Team Lead of GBIPF, described the expo as the first comprehensive Hajj–Umrah-focused exhibition in Nigeria and West Africa, designed to strengthen pilgrim welfare, improve institutional coordination, attract investment, and promote public-private collaboration.
The expo aims to establish Nigeria as West Africa’s leading center for Hajj, Umrah, and faith-based tourism, supported by stronger institutions, efficient systems, and expanded private-sector participation.
Key objectives include improving pilgrims’ safety and welfare, supporting policy and regulatory discussions, promoting Shariah-compliant finance, and opening opportunities in aviation, hospitality, healthcare, ICT, logistics, and tourism services.
Dr. Ahmed-Shitu added that the initiative could also boost Nigeria’s religious diplomacy and bilateral engagements, particularly with Saudi Arabia, while contributing to job creation, foreign exchange inflows, and economic growth linked to the pilgrimage economy.
The expo will feature a large exhibition and trade fair, showcasing licensed Hajj and Umrah operators, airlines, hotels, banks, fintech companies, insurers, healthcare providers, ICT firms, and logistics companies. It will also host business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-government (G2G) engagement sessions, investor matchmaking forums, and private-sector deal rooms.
Organizers project over 2,000 in-person attendees, with a digital and media reach of more than 10,000, establishing the Hajj–Umrah Nigeria Expo as a long-term platform for sector reforms, improved pilgrim welfare, and investment-driven growth in Nigeria’s pilgrimage administration.
JANUARY,24 2026
