RIYADH: As the Hajj season reaches its peak, the focus for pilgrims shifts from packing to presence, and finding the balance between traveling light and carrying essential medical and practical supplies.
“One of the biggest mistakes pilgrims make is overpacking. Most experienced pilgrims recommend traveling as light as possible so you can move comfortably, focus on worship and avoid unnecessary stress during the journey,” Iftekhar Hossain, founder of Umrah Companion, told Arab News.
The Umrah Companion app provides guidance through every major stage of Umrah and Hajj. Developed over seven months with insights from veteran pilgrims and religious scholars, it serves as a pocket-sized mentor to help travelers maximize their time in Makkah and Madinah.
Once in Ihram, it offers step-by-step guidance through the critical steps, including Tawaf, with built-in counters, guidance and recommendations for all seven circuits. For Sa’i, the application also provides tracking, duas and key reminders.
Despite having no coding experience, Hossain used modern AI tools to bring the project to life, driven by a passion for helping others get the most out of their Umrah and Hajj experience.
