Under the Patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, May Allah Protect Him, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Interior, Chairman of the Higher Committee of Hajj and the Chairman of the Higher Supervisory Committee of the Institute of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah, will open the 16th Scientific Meeting of Hajj and Umrah Researches organized by University of Umm Al-Qura (UQU), represented by the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Researches, which will be held in the period from  17th to 18th of Sha'aban 1437H, at King Abdul-Aziz Historical Hall, in the university headquarters, Abidia. The meeting will be attended by a number of experts and researchers in the field of Hajj and Umrah from inside and outside the Kingdom.  

This was announced by the president of Umm Al-Qura University, and the Supervisor General of  the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Researches, His Excellency Dr. Bakri bin M'atoog Al-Assas, in a press conference he has held today Monday 9th of Sha'aban 1437H at the grand meeting hall in his office in Abidia, in the presence of the Institute's dean, Dr. Atif bin Hussein Asghar and a number of officials in the institute. 

In this regard, the president of Umm Al-Qura University, His Excellency Dr. Bakri bin M'atoog Al-Assas, said the noble patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and the attendance of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, in the opening of this event  reflects keenness interest of our wise leadership and the care and attention they have has provided for the pilgrims, as well as their generous support to upgrade level of services provided to the pilgrims to perform their rituals in ease, comfort, and tranquility.

He added that, in line with the directives of the rulers, the Kingdom has harnessed and still all its physical capabilities and human capacities, and has worked and still every year to devise necessary plans and strategies in this regard according to scientific and research methodology. Umm Al-Qura University, represented by the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Researches, is honored with the work of developing Hajj and Umrah system through scientific research and specialized studies to address all obstacles and challenges and suggest practical solutions which contribute to implementing the projects and design plans intended to provide comfort for the pilgrims visiting these holy places.   

Within the same vein, Dr. Assas explained that the scientific meeting for Hajj and Umrah research, is an annual scientific event which gathers specialists, officials and workers in the field of Hajj and Umrah to provide summary of the researches, studies and proposals they have, exchange point of views, and benefit from the latest international technological and scientific developments, aiming at continuous development of the services provided for the pilgrims.  He went on to add that the meeting aims at  attracting researchers and specialists working in the Saudi universities and research institutes, those interested in the studies related to Hajj and Umrah research, as well as the employees in the public and private sectors to discuss topics, researches, and developments related to Hajj and Umrah services. 

In a similar context, Dr. Al-Assas has touched upon the wise orientation launched by the Kingdom for the vision 2030  and the move of the Kingdom into a new stage depending on the investment development through the actual investment of the national human capacities and the gains contributing to reaching the objectives of this vision. He underlined that UQU represented by the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Researches will save no effort in providing the visions which serve the field of Hajj and Umrah.   

On this occasion, the president of UQU has expressed his great appreciation and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques noble patronage, and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, for attending the opening of this meeting, which reflects the intensive care and continuous support offered by the rulers to the Institute. He expressed his hope for the conference to come up with recommendations which serve the works of Hajj and Umrah and visiting of the Prophet’s Mosque. The recommendations, he added, are  in line with the aspirations and directives of  the wise leadership, with the aim of making the Hajj and its services a model and unique example that reflects the blessed efforts and work provided by the Kingdom for the sake of the pilgrims bounding for Makkah to perform the fifth pillar of Islam “the Hajj” and Umrah rituals and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque. 

On his part, the Dean of the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Researches, Dr. Atif  bin Hussein Asghar, said the meeting will discuss six topics including, urbanization and engineering applications, environment and health, technology applications, management, economy and services, awareness and media, Hajj and Umrah jurisdiction, and efforts and achievements. He pointed out that these topics were set   according to a number of scientific papers reaching up to 200 papers which have gone through arbitration by the scientific committee approved by HE the president of the university Dr. Bakri bin M'atoog Al-Assas. He added that 60% of these papers were approved prior to being presented to the meeting. In this regard, he lauded the support and follow-up the president of the university provided to the Institute, the thing which made it achieving the excellence in its activities in which many problems facing the visitors of the two holy mosques are discussed.