RIYADH: Each year, millions of Muslims from all over the world arrive in Makkah for Hajj — united in faith, but sometimes divided by language.
From Turkish and Urdu to Swahili and Bahasa, the diversity of languages in the holy cities is vast. For many, overcoming language barriers while navigating the logistics of Hajj can be overwhelming.
That is where young Saudi volunteers step in to translate and ease some of the challenges pilgrims face.
“We speak different languages, but we’re all here for the same reason,” said Deema Ibrahim, 21.
Ibrahim’s experience volunteering as a translator began with a change of plans. “I initially joined a team for emergency medical services,” she said. “But when we arrived, we found that the ambulance units were already full. So we were redirected to work in the road guidance division.”
