MAKKAH: The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched initiatives to enhance the pilgrim experience during Hajj at the Grand Mosque Library, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. 

The library, one of the most significant in the Islamic world, houses a vast collection of religious texts, rare manuscripts, and resources in multiple languages across various fields of knowledge. 

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, highlighted that the library was a cultural and educational platform for spreading religious knowledge, promoting Islamic culture, and fostering moderate thought globally. 

It remains a valuable resource for both students of knowledge and visitors to the two holy mosques, Al-Sudais said.

“The presidency is committed to advancing the library’s scientific and intellectual mission during Hajj and sharing it worldwide,” he added. 

The presidency has begun expanding the library’s role in scientific, intellectual and cultural areas during Hajj, with specialized programs and initiatives designed to serve visitors and researchers.

RIYADH: The Saudi Museums Commission, one of 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation of Germany have taken a step forward in their cultural partnership by activating an executive program focused on long-term collaboration in the museum sector.

Central to this initiative is the development of a loan index, outlining a selection of artworks and artefacts from the foundation’s various Berlin-based museums to be shared with the Museums Commission over a five-year period.

This loan program forms part of the broader executive program signed by both parties.

The agreement outlines key areas of cooperation, including joint exhibitions in art and archaeology, long-term loans, strategic cultural projects, and capacity-building through training and residencies.

Two dedicated training programs have been agreed upon as part of this collaboration, said the Ministry of Culture in a press release.

One of the flagship initiatives, Museums in Motion, will bring together up to 80 cultural and museum professionals from both countries over five years through four interdisciplinary training sessions. 

Participants will engage in joint learning activities in both countries, fostering sustained dialogue, professional exchange, deeper cross-cultural understanding, and long-term institutional partnerships.

In a parallel initiative with the Hamburger Bahnhof — Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart (National Gallery of Contemporary Art) in Berlin, a professional program will support talent development in the museum field. 

Over the next five years, experts from Hamburger Bahnhof will contribute to training and mentorship, fostering the exchange of knowledge and best practices in museum management and curation.

This executive program reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening international cultural dialogue and advancing professional exchange in the global museum community.