Saudi Gazette report

MADINAH — Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, announced that public interest in the immersive "On His Path" experience has surged past one million registration requests ahead of its official launch this November.

Taking to X, Alalshikh wrote, “Alhamdulillah, we’ve received over a million requests for the Hijrah trail in the ‘On His Path’ experience... See you in November, insha’Allah.”

He extended his gratitude to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for his unwavering support of the project, and thanked Prince Salman bin Sultan, Emir of Madinah Region, and Prince Saud bin Mishaal, Deputy Emir of Makkah Region, for their consistent backing and commitment to the success of this pioneering initiative.

Alalshikh highlighted the strong momentum the project is already seeing internationally, particularly in Indonesia, where video clips showed long lines of participants eager to join.

He confirmed that similar rollouts are planned soon in Malaysia, Turkey, and India, as part of a global expansion strategy for the project, which aims to revive the Hijrah (Prophet Muhammad’s migration) route through an unprecedented interactive and human-centered experience.

This year’s edition is expected to accommodate 300,000 visitors, with strict planning in place to ensure a high-quality, safe journey. By 2030, the project aims to welcome 5 million visitors annually.

To facilitate smooth and secure movement across the rugged Hijrah terrain, Alalshikh announced the deployment of specially designed 4x4 transport buses. These will enhance accessibility while ensuring comfort for all participants.

He also revealed a breakthrough in reaching Ghar Thawr (Cave of Thawr), a key Hijrah landmark, reducing the typically strenuous two-hour hike to just three minutes using advanced transportation technology, making the once-challenging site easily accessible for all visitors.

“On His Path” is one of the General Entertainment Authority’s most ambitious experiential projects. It brings the story of the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Makkah to Madinah to life using cutting-edge technology, immersive storytelling, and historical accuracy.

The initiative aims to deepen public understanding of the profound spiritual and human values embedded in the Hijrah, while making this pivotal moment in Islamic history more accessible to both domestic and international audiences.