Under the Patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, 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 on Tuesday evening 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, 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 participants in the meeting will discuss six main 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 
 

In this regard, the president of Umm Al-Qura University, His Excellency Dr. Bakri bin M'atoog Al-Assas, said the generous 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 it 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 and comfort and tranquility, stressing that this noble patronage also reflects the intensive care and continuous support offered by the rulers to the Institute.

 
He added that thanks to Allah in the first place, and to 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 the 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, research, and developments related to Hajj and Umrah services. 

 
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. 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. 
 
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 Institute has offered hundreds of scientific studies and research since its inception and contributed to various projects executed by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques during the past years to serve pilgrims and provide them all the means to perform their rituals smoothly and easily. He pointed out that the 16th meeting of Hajj and Umrah Researches is an extension to the previous meetings and that researchers from 25 academic and governmental bodies are going to present 60 research and scientific papers 30 out of which   will be discussed in six scientific sessions and the remaining 30 research will be displayed as wall posters during the events of the meeting.