On behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah protect him, His Royal Highness the Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, the Crown Prince, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of the Interior, the President of Hajj Higher Committee and the President of the Supreme Supervisory Committee of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, on the evening of Tuesday 17 Shaaban 1437 AH, corresponding to 24 May 2016 AD, the 16^th scientific forum for Hajj, Umrah and Ziyara related research. The event is organized by Umm Al-Qura University represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research on 17-18 Shaaban 1437 AH at King Abdul Aziz historical Hall in the university city of Umm Al-Qura University at Al-Abediah.

Upon arrival to the venue, the Crown Prince was received by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Governor of Makkah Region and the President of Haj Central Committee, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Issa, the Minister of Education, Dr. Bakri bin Matouq Assass, the Rector of the University, the University Vice-deans and Dr. Atif bin Hussein Asghar, the Principal of the Institute for Haj and Umrah related research.

Upon the arrival of His Highness, the royal anthem was played. After the Crown Prince took his seat in the main podium, the speech ceremony prepared for this occasion started with reading verses from the Holy Qura'n. Then, Dr. Atif Asghar, the Institute's Dean and the President of the Organizing Committee of the Forum, delivered a speech in which he stressed that this forum received the support and patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah protect him, who directed that this forum must be annually held to be held one year in Mecca and one year in Medina. Thus, this forum has become a scientific beacon that attracts researchers and those who are interested in everything that serves pilgrims and patronizes the Two Holy Mosques. Dr. Atef pointed out that this patronage of His Highness, may Allah protect him, along with inaugurating the forum by the Crown Prince asserts the great interest dedicated by the government of this generous country to the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.

Dr. Atif Asghar said also that an elite of researchers from Saudi universities and the concerned personnel of government entities had participated in the forum's works for this year who reached to more than a hundred researchers and participants. They provided the summary of their expertise in areas related to Hajj, Umrah and Ziyara through submitting sixty researches and paperwork provided in the forum's axes. The forum's axes included the administrative and economic studies, Fiqh of Hajj, Umrah and Ziyara, the studies of environment and health. In addition, the axes included awareness and information, the urban and engineering studies, technology and its applications along with the study of experiments and expertise and their role in the development of services.

He pointed out that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, with all its expertise accumulated over more than forty years, and with its specialists in various fields of science and knowledge, became an experience home that sets it apart from a lot of research and consulting centers. He praised the foresight of the rulers, may Allah protect them, who directed to establish the institute to be an advisory reference for the High Committee For Hajj and to all executive bodies operating in the pilgrimage.

Dr. Asghar indicated that the institute won the trust of our government where a lot of ideas, proposals and visions are referred to it to be scientifically and practically studied so as to achieve the visions of our blessed nation towards the development of the Hajj, Umrah and Ziyara system for the benefit of pilgrims. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Governor of Makkah Region and the President of Haj Central Committee and to His Highness Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Al Medina Al Mounoura region and the President Haj Central Committee in Al-Madina for their continuous support to the Institute continued. He also thanked the Minister of Education for his support to scientific research in the Institute and the University, praising in the same time, the tireless efforts of Dr. Bakri bin Matouk Assas, the University Rector, in support of the Institute mission.

Thereafter, Dr. Bakri bin Matouk Assas, the Rector of Umm Al-Qura University and the General Supervisor of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, delivered a speech in which he explained that the Institute was able over four decades to conduct hundreds of studies, provide hundreds of projects and hold dozens of meetings and forums which entirely aimed at serving pilgrims and Ziyara. He pointed out that the efforts of the Institute is part of the activity of Umm Al-Qura University in serving Hajj, Umrah and Ziyara which is inspired from the efforts of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in serving the visitors of Hajj and Umrah.

He stressed that this blessed country has endured this great responsibility over the rule of many consecutive kings and has inherited its honor. In addition, the country's institutions and different sectors have spared no efforts and did not skimp money which made everyone acknowledged that. However, it does not confer upon nor have audacity to anyone by its work. Instead, it considers all that as its duty, honor and pride of which it is cherished.

His Excellency said, "your attendance to this forum is a sign of the attention of this blessed country to the affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Hajj and Umrah. You, as is Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, may Allah accepts him in His mercy, have the upper hands in supporting the activities of this Institute and generally caring about the pilgrims affairs".

He added, "I and also the general public have read your cheerful tweet about the launch of the kingdom's vision as you said: (I congratulate the nation with the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 and I support my brother and right hand Mohammed bin Salman on this ambitious vision). May Allah protect our King and our country. There is no doubt that this ambitious vision will be positively reflected on what the KSA provides to serve the pilgrims.

He expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Advisor of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Prince of Makkah Region for his support to all activities of the University. In addition, he also thanked the Minister of Education for his ongoing follow-up of all scientific, academic, research and community paths of the University, praising at the same time the Institute's employees in achieving the studies and researches that support all the services provided to the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques.

Thereafter, His Highness and the attendees saw a visual presentation about the Institute and its scientific and research achievements. His Highness Prince Mohammed bin Nayef  bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, the President of Hajj Higher Committee and the President of the Supreme Supervisory Committee to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, honored many characters who had a prominent and active role in serving the pilgrims, won the confidence of the governors and followed their guidance, served in the most honorable places and provided luminous models in their working lives namely HE Dr. Badr bin Mohammed Hajjar, HE Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Ali and HE Dr. Habib Zain Al-Abidin. His Highness also received a commemorative gift from the Rector on this occasion and a similar gift to His Highness the Prince of Makkah region. After that,  the royal anthem was played and the Crown Prince had left the ceremony venue with the same hospitality and honor he was received.

The  Ceremony was attended by Prince Saud bin Jalawi, the Deputy Governor of Makkah Region for Security Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Mohammed bin Saad, Assistant Undersecretary of Makkah Governorate for Rights, Dr. Mohammed Saleh Benten, the Minister of Hajj, Dr. Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al-Faleh, the advisor of the Prince of Mecca region, the supervisor of the Emirate Agency for Development and the Secretary General of the Commission of the Development of Mecca and the Holy Sites, HE Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Khozim, Deputy President of the Grand Mosque Affairs, Dr. Osama bin Fadl Al-Bar, the Mayor of Makkah, the Major General Abdulaziz bin Othman Abu Bakr bin Yahya Al-Suli, the Director of Makkah region police and a number of officials in Mecca Al-Moukramah.