The Technical Committee for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Expansion Project of the Grand Mosque held a meeting on Wednesday evening Ramadan 5, 1438 H with the representatives of the Ministry of Interior and the Higher Hajj Committee to discuss issues related to the project of increasing accommodation capacity of the Mattaf. The meeting took place at the Headquarters of the Committee in the location of the third Saudi Expansion project.

The President of Umm Al-Qura University(UQU), and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Expansion Project of the Grand Mosque, Dr. Bakri bin M'atooq bin Bakri Assas said in his opening speech, which was delivered on behalf of him by the Chairman of the Technical Committee for the Development Projects of the Grand Mosque, Dr. Faisal Wafa, that the keenness attached by the government of the Custodian of the Two Hoy Mosques to the Two Holy Mosques comes within its top priorities missions towards Islamic Nation saying that such patronage reflects the strategic stands of the Saudi Government and its projects carried out to provide comfort and tranquility to the pilgrims and visitors of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet Mosque.   

He added that involving leadership of the Ministry of Interior, Higher Hajj Committee, and the representatives of Makkah Emirate and the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosques and the Prophet's Mosques emanates from its strong belief in the importance of involving everyone in decision making and taking advantage of their field and operational experiences.

The meeting witnessed participation of the Major General Saudi Al-Khilaiwi Assistant Director of Public Security for Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Major General Mohamed Wasl Al-Ahmadi, Commander of Special Forces for the Security of the Grand Mosques, Major General Salim Al-Matrafi. Director of Makkah Civil Defense, Dr. Salah Sagr, Secretary of Hajj Central Committee. Mr. Mashhour Al-Monemi, the Assistant Undersecretary of Services Affairs at the General Presidency of the Grand Mosques, Eng. Mohamed bin Rajab Samkari Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Finance and Bin Laden Group.

In this regard, Dr. Faisal bin Fuad Wafaa explained that meetings held by the Technical Committee are intended to review results of the  development works of the elements related to increasing accommodation capacity of the Mattaf to take advantage of the vision of the security and operational leadership and involve them in the projects' designing decisions stressing that the project which benefited millions of Muslims in the last years was implemented in phases to enable Muslims benefit from the project during Ramadan and Hajj seasons. He added that the achievement made is a source of pride for all the participants in the project whereas implementation works have not affected Tawaf performance in the Grand Mosque.  

Further, the Member of the Technical Committee and the Chairman of Safety Subcommittee in the project of Increasing of the Mattaf's Accommodation Committee, Dr. Wael bin Saleh Al-Halabi said that a safety committee was formed including; the Technical Committee, Civil Defense and the General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. He added that this committee is concerned with coordinating between the parties involved in the works and ensuring highest safety levels for the pilgrims and Umrah doers. 

He went on to add that the committee conducts inspection tours around the clock in coordination with Civil Defense and the General Presidency to ensure availability of the highest safety levels at the prayers areas, and pedestrian walkways in the Grand Mosque and follow up removing any obstacles in this regard by the project contractor Bin Laden Company.

It is worth mentioning here that the meetings of the technical committee with the representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Hajj Higher Committee started before the beginning of the project of increasing Mattaf's Accommodation Capacity and during its successive meetings of works implementation, works locations were taken into consideration in the plans of the security, service and operational parties in the different seasons.