Nigeria to host Hajj–Umrah Expo 2026 in Abuja

Nigeria will next week host the Hajj–Umrah Nigeria Expo 2026, an international event aimed at improving the planning and delivery of Hajj and Umrah operations in the country while positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for faith-based tourism and pilgrimage management. The expo is scheduled to hold from January 28 to 30 in Abuja, is […]

Nigeria will next week host the Hajj–Umrah Nigeria Expo 2026, an international event aimed at improving the planning and delivery of Hajj and Umrah operations in the country while positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for faith-based tourism and pilgrimage management.

The expo is scheduled to hold from January 28 to 30 in Abuja, is being organised by the Global Business and Investment Partnerships Forum, Nigeria.

Stakeholders are expected to deliberate on the theme, “Enhancing the pilgrimage experience through Knowledge, access, Community,” as the event brings together government agencies, private operators, international partners, investors, scholars and intending pilgrims to examine governance, service delivery, investment and innovation across the Hajj and Umrah value chain.

Chairperson and Team Lead of the forum, Dr Aisha Ahmed-Shitu, said the expo was the first comprehensive Hajj–Umrah-focused exhibition in Nigeria and West Africa, designed to strengthen pilgrim welfare, improve coordination among institutions, attract investment and deepen public–private collaboration in the sector.

According to the organisers, the broader vision of the expo is to position Nigeria as West Africa’s leading centre for Hajj, Umrah and faith-based tourism, supported by stronger institutions, efficient systems and expanded private-sector participation.

Key objectives of the programme include improving pilgrims’ safety and welfare, supporting policy and regulatory discussions, promoting Shariah-compliant finance, and opening up business opportunities in aviation, hospitality, healthcare, ICT, logistics and tourism services.

Dr Ahmed-Shitu said the initiative could also strengthen Nigeria’s religious diplomacy and bilateral engagements, particularly with Saudi Arabia, while supporting foreign exchange inflows and job creation linked to the pilgrimage economy.

The expo will feature a large exhibition and trade fair involving licensed Hajj and Umrah operators, airlines, hotels, banks, fintech companies, insurers, healthcare providers, ICT firms and logistics companies. It will also include business-to-business and government-to-government engagement sessions, investor matchmaking and private-sector deal rooms.

Organisers project over 2,000 physical attendees and an estimated digital and media reach of more than 10,000, positioning the expo as a long-term platform for reforms, improved pilgrim welfare and investment-driven growth in Nigeria’s pilgrimage administration.