Under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – May Allah save him, Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee and Chairman of Supreme Supervisory Committee of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research) will inaugurate the 17^th Hajj and Umrah Researches Scientific Meeting. The Meeting is organized by Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research.  Moreover, it will be launched on Wednesday and Thursday 14-15^th Shaaban 1438H at Taibah University in Al-Madinah.  In addition, the event will be launched in the presence of Dr. Ahmad bin Muhammad Al-Eisa, Minister of Education, and a number of stakeholders, officials and interested researchers participating in the Meeting from Saudi universities, academic institutes and parties concerned with the affairs of Hajj and Umrah.

This was announced by Dr. Bakri bin Maatouq Assas, President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) and General Supervisor of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, in a press conference held on Wednesday, 29^th Rajab 1438H, at his Abediyah-based office. It is noteworthy that such press conference witnessed the participation of Dr. Sami bin Yaseen Barhameen (Dean of the Institute), the Vice-Deans of the Institute, as well as the Chairmen of the working committees of the Meeting.   

In this regard, Dr. Assas pointed out to the event's generous patronage by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – May Allah save him, in addition to its honorable inauguration by Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee and Chairman of Supreme Supervisory Committee of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research) – May Allah guide him. Besides, Dr. Assas asserted that such sponsorship stemmed from the permanent concern, interest, care and support of the Saudi Arabian wise leadership concerning the pilgrims and visitors to upgrade the level of services provided to them to perform their rituals easily and safely.  

Within the framework of the press conference, Dr. Assas also said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, thanks to Allah in the first place and then to the directives of the rulers, had been harnessing all its human and technical energies and potential; it had been working on a yearly basis to develop plans and programs to ensure this in accordance with a scientific and research methodology.  He added that UQU, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, was honored to work with stakeholders to develop the Hajj, Umrah and visit system through scientific research and specialized studies to face obstacles and challenges, and to provide scientific and practical suggestions and solutions to contribute to the implementation of projects and development of plans for the convenience of pilgrims and visitors who come to such holy places every year.   

Dr. Assas also added that the Meeting aimed to attract researchers and specialists in universities and research institutes in Saudi Arabia, those interested in studies and researches of Hajj, Umrah and visit, in addition to the participants from government agencies and the private sector. This was to discuss topics, research and scientific developments related to the services of Hajj and Umrah, to present a summary of the participants' scientific methods and practical proposals in line with KSA Vision2030, and to exchange views to take advantage of the latest scientific technologies for continuous development and improvement of the services provided to the pilgrims of the Kaaba and visitors to the Prophet's Mosque.

In the same context, Dr. Assas extended deep thanks and gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – May Allah save him for his generous patronage, and to HRH Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior) – May Allah guide him for his honorable inauguration of the 17^th Hajj and Umrah Researches Scientific Meeting. Moreover, he wished that the Meeting would come out with recommendations that achieved the aspirations and instructions of our wise government, May Allah support it! Such aspirations and instructions aimed to render Hajj and its services a model image, and a unique act that reflected the blessed efforts and works offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to serve the pilgrims and visitors to such holy places.

For his part, Dr. Sami bin Yaseen Barhameen, Dean of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, clarified that the Scientific Committee of the Meeting approved (112) scientific papers to be presented this year out of (269) participations by researchers and the interested in this regard. He added that the 112 papers, which included (46) scientific papers and (66) scientific posters, would be examined in eight scientific sessions. He also pointed out that all scientific papers were subject to arbitration in accordance with the scientific standards approved by the scientific committee formed by UQU President.

Dr. Barhameen also illustrated that the Meeting would cover eight main topics. He said that the topics would include the jurisprudence of Hajj, Umrah, visit and administration- economy- urbanization- engineering, environment and health- awareness and media- technologies and their applications- initiatives and their impact on achievements in the development of services and facilities- community participation in the service of Pilgrims and visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque.

Within this framework, Dr. Barhameen appreciated the generous care and attention paid by the wise leadership (May Allah support it!) for everything related to the development of the Hajj, Umrah and visit system, including the care and support for the 17th Hajj and Umrah Researches Scientific Meeting. In addition, he appreciated that UQU President spared no effort to support the Institute. He added that such efforts enabled the Institute to perform the role and mission for which it was established, to implement its annual scientific programs, and to discuss many studies, visions and proposals submitted by professors, researchers and those interested in the affairs of Hajj and Umrah.