The 16th round of Hajj and Umrah Research Forum is scheduled to kick off on Tuesday and discuss up to 30 research and working papers. The forum is organized by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research. Its opening session would be held under the theme "the Administration and Economic Studies and the Fiqh (Jurisprudence) of Hajj and Umrah".

The session would investigate "street vendors' social and economic dimensions in the central part of Medina." Its agenda includes a field study and a jurisprudent study on the effects of the Hajj-related transmission of infectious diseases.

The subject, "Crisis management and its role in maintaining safety of pilgrims" would be found on the same meeting's agenda along with a cross-sectional study on the role played by King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) in serving patients during Hajj.

It would wrap up discussion upon conclusion of talks over the behavioral and cognitive aspects of health services providers and their responsibilities and duties during preparation of response for disasters.

The second scientific meeting, which would be held under the theme "Environment and Health", would discuss five objects that include "the climate change-related health effects which may hit pilgrims" and "the Seasonal influenza vaccination and the vaccinators' commitment during the Hajj season (1436H - 2015) at KAMC". The attendees would also discuss Thailand's experience in supplying frozen ready meals to pilgrims during 1435H Hajj season. In addition, they would probe a survey on noise pollution in Makkah and a research on "the economic and environment value of waste recycling in the holy city."

During the 3rd session, dubbed "Construction and Engineering", the participants would investigate the smart walking trails envisaged to generate electricity from walking and solar energy during Hajj. Also, they would discuss a mechanism of development and improvement of Hajj and Umrah services in addition to driving crowds to the Jamarat Bridge. The meeting is scheduled to discuss two other research papers on an applicable plan to increase pilgrim arrivals and measure the increasing number of pilgrims coming from Southeast Asia.

The agenda of the 4th session, titled "Awareness and media", would discuss a mentoring program to increase female Tawaf guides' social media skills and to put emphasis on the social media network as important tool for drawing an image about entities in concern with the Hajj services. The discussions would cover a role played by the General Directorate of Civil Defense in raising awareness in addition to efforts exerted to educate the pilgrims on the preventive measures against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections during Hajj in 1436H. They would close the session after discussing the development of an electronic medical platform to help pilgrims during Hajj.

The 5th session would be held under the theme "Technologies and Applications" to discuss data visualization and health centers' support during disasters. It would explore modern technologies that could help in managing the Red Crescent's ambulance services in addition to the control on entry into the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet Mohamed's Mosque in Medina) during rush hours. The participants are expected to talk control of the PM10 fossil fuels' emission using ADMS-Urban in Makkah during Hajj and Umrah.

Later in the 6th session, named "Achievements of service and facilities development", the meeting would discuss research papers suggested to investigate integration of different sectors to help pilgrims moving between ritual sites in addition to communication channels between visitors and prayers at the holy mosque. They are expected to probe twinning of Makkah hospitals with KAMC and food products' quality control in Medina during Hajj and Umrah. A working paper would be discussed at the end of the session under the title "Challenges facing the Committee of Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vices - a Hajj-field study in 1436H."