A Royal Invitation to the Journey of a Lifetime: My Hajj Experience as a Guest of Saudi Arabia’s King

For every Muslim, performing Hajj is the ultimate dream. It is a journey of deep prayer, peace, and surrender to Almighty Allah. For many years, I held this dream close to my heart, hoping for the day I could finally see the Holy Kaaba with my own eyes.

This year, in 2026, my lifelong dream came true. I was deeply honored to receive an official invitation to participate in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj.

Representing Sri Lanka as an official guest, I joined 2,500 pilgrims from 104 countries. This special program, sponsored entirely by the Saudi government, allowed me to complete my Hajj in absolute peace, safety, and comfort.

A Warm Royal Welcome

From the moment our group arrived in Saudi Arabia, we felt the incredible warmth of the people. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ensure that international guests are treated with the highest level of respect.

We were welcomed not just as visitors, but truly as the "Guests of Allah." Everywhere we went, whether arriving at our hotels or traveling to the holy sites, we were greeted with smiles, refreshing Zamzam water, and traditional Saudi coffee with sweet dates. These small, kind gestures made us feel completely at home and showed us the true heart of Saudi hospitality.

Smooth Travel and Peace of Mind

The rituals of Hajj, like standing at Mount Arafat, spending the night in Muzdalifah, staying in the tents of Mina, and walking around the Kaaba, take a lot of physical effort. However, the Saudi authorities planned everything so perfectly that the entire journey felt very easy.

One of the best things they organized was the transport. The program provided a 24-hour continuous shuttle bus service just for us, running back and forth between our hotel and the Haram Sharif. This meant we could travel safely to the Grand Mosque for any prayer time, day or night, without worrying about crowds or traffic.

On top of that, King Salman showed great generosity by personally paying for the sacrificial offerings (Adahi) for all 2,500 guests in our program. This was a wonderful relief that let us focus entirely on our prayers.

A Global Family of Muslims

One of the most beautiful parts of this royal program was meeting people from all over the world. Living and praying alongside believers from more than a hundred different countries felt amazing.

During our time in Makkah and Madinah, we sat together and shared stories about our lives, our cultures, and our homes. Seeing everyone dressed in the same simple white clothes (Ihram), regardless of whether they were rich, poor, from Asia, or from Africa, showed the true beauty of Islam. It reminded us that we are all brothers and sisters united as one global community.

Exploring Islamic History: Kiswa Factory and Hira Cave

Our hosts also organized deeply meaningful visits to historical landmarks in Makkah that left a lasting impression on all of us.

We had the rare privilege of visiting the Kiswa Factory (The King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa). It was fascinating to see the incredible skill, precision, and devotion that goes into weaving, dyeing, and embroidering the black silk cloth with pure gold and silver threads. Witnessing where the cover of the Holy Kaaba is created made us appreciate its majesty even more.

Interactive Presentations at the Hira Museum

When we visited the Hira Cultural District at the foot of Mount Hira, we did not just look at the mountain; we also went inside the Revelation Exhibition museum.

Inside the exhibition hall, the guides showed us amazing presentations using modern screens and advanced video technology. The museum staff explained the history of the divine message beautifully. They used realistic, life-sized models of the Hira Cave and panoramic video displays to show us exactly how the Angel Jibreel visited Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to reveal the first verses of the Holy Quran. These clear and moving presentations made the history of the "Mountain of Light" (Jabal al-Nour) incredibly easy to understand and gave us a deep spiritual feeling that we will never forget.

Finding Peace in Makkah and Madinah

Our journey beautifully balanced the busy days of Makkah with the calm peace of Madinah. After finishing our Hajj rituals, our group traveled to the city of the Prophet ﷺ. Walking through the quiet halls of the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) and praying inside the sacred Rawdah was a deeply moving experience. 

A Message of Deep Gratitude

Organizing a massive program like this takes a lot of hard work and teamwork. Now that I am back home in Sri Lanka with a fulfilled heart, I want to say a big thank you to everyone who made this possible.

To the Leadership of Saudi Arabia: I express my deepest thanks to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their vision and care for Muslims around the world.

To the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance: Led by Minister Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh, the entire team worked day and night to look after us perfectly.

To the Saudi Embassy in Colombo: I am deeply grateful to His Excellency Khalid Hamoud Al-Kahtani, the Saudi Ambassador to Sri Lanka, for his recommendation, and to his wonderful team. Their kindness, support, and quick help with our visas and coordination made our departure incredibly smooth and hassle-free.

Through this noble program, Saudi Arabia does more than just host an event; it brings the Muslim world closer together in peace and unity. May Almighty Allah bless the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia, accept our Hajj, and bless our global community.

✍️ By: Nusky Mukthar,

Parliamentary Officer,

Parliament of Sri Lanka.