On behalf of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, the Advisor to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, Emir of Makkah, Deputy Chairman of the  Higher Committee of Hajj and Chairman of the Hajj's Central Committee HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal  launched today Tuesday Sha'ban 15, 1439 H the 18th Meeting of Hajj and Umrah Research and the accompanying exhibition organized by the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research at the university main campus in Abdyia.

On the arrival of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Saudi Anthem was played. He was then received by the UQU President, the Supervisor General of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research Prof. Abdullah Omar Bafail,  the Deputy Minister of Hajj Dr. Abdul-Fattah Mashatt, UQU Vice Presidents, Dean of the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Research Dr. Sami bin Yassin Barhamain, and the Institute's vice deans. Afterward, he opened the accompanying exhibition, toured its different pavilions and viewed the contents of its different parties relevant to the affairs of Hajj, Umrah, and Visit.

After that, the event started with a Quranic recitation, after which the Dean of the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Research Dr. Sami Barhamain delivered speech saying that the forum comes within the series of scientific meetings organized annually by the Institute since 1422 H to bring together the researchers, specialists and officials in the fields of Hajj, Umrah and Visit to exchange expertise and present summary of their research, studies and proposals. He explained that the forum this year will include accompanying exhibition for the parties involved in the development of Hajj and Umrah services and facilities to showcase their achievements.   

He added that after the issuance of the royals decree in 1434 H merging the Scientific Forum for Hajj Research in Makkah with the Scientific Forum for Research in A-Medina in one forum to be held every year in Makkah and Medina alternately under the title: " the Scientific Forum for Hajj, Umrah and Visit Research", under the noble patronage of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, the thing which provides clear evidence for the keenness and attention paid by the rulers to these great rituals. 

Further, Dr. Barhamain said the forum approved 57 scientific papers out of 140 papers received by the committee including; 11 papers submitted by some public, private, and academic institutions as initiatives and experiments in the fields of Hajj and Umrah. He indicated that 6 main themes will be discussed over six sessions including; the future of Hajj and Umrah services system under the Kingdom Vision 2030, technical and media studies, engineering studies, environmental and health studies, and the achievements and initiatives made in serving pilgrims. That is to be added to posters session including all the previously mentioned sessions plus the theme of the administrative and social studies. These sessions will witness participation of more than 20 academic, public and private institutions from inside the Kingdom.

He went on to add that over 40 years since its establishment, the Institute has achieved one of its most important objectives represented in building the largest historical archive and data bank of the studies, documents. photos, films, maps and historical manuscripts and the biggest scientific reference for the different types of statistics and facts related to Hajj and Umrah, Makkah, Holy Sites and Al-Medina. "The Institute also supported various parties in setting basic plans, objectives, and performance indicators for taking decisions and ensuring the best planning for the future of the Hajj and Umrah services system in line with the Kingdom Vision 2030", he expounded.

All the more, he said the Institute adopted new strategies in its  consultancy research and  studies to support technology industry in Hajj and Umrah services, renewable energy in the housing, transportation, traffic and accommodation fields beside the cloud computing, smart applications, artificial intelligence, internet of things and virtual reality in the organization and management of crowds and grouping.  

Concluding his speech, Dr. Barhamain said the Institute is reckoned strategic partner of the UQU's Vision Realization Office in the Pilgrims Service Program overseen by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the program of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the Global Destination for Muslims affiliated to the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage, to which the Institute was invited to conduct several in-depth consulting studies in the field of hospitality industry, creative initiatives, transfer of experiments and future exploration. 

Within the same vein, the UQU President Prof. Abdullah Bafail lauded in his speech the attention paid by the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz to pilgrims so as to help them perform their rituals smoothly and conveniently praising the continuous efforts exerted by the Kingdom to develop Hajj and Umrah system and upgrade it every year.   

He said that this forum provides clear evidence for these blessed efforts and these extensive studies and work papers to be submitted in the forum this year in all aspects related to Hajj, Umrah and visit will contribute directly to achieving objectives of the Kingdom Vision 2030 by increasing accommodation capacity to receive more pilgrims. 

He pointed out that the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research at Umm Al-Qura University includes a constellation of scholars and researchers and has contributed for a long time to several consultancies and research services in the field of Hajj, Umrah, and Visit. Last year, he added the Institute signed strategic partnerships with the Vision Realization Office at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage and other relevant authorities to develop quality initiatives to achieve the program’s vision in serving the pilgrims and the program of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the Global Destination for Muslims within the Kingdom Vision 2030.

He then extended his thanks to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and the Heir Apparent for their keen interest and attention paid to service and comfort of pilgrims and their generous support provided for Umm Al-Qura University and the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj and Umrah Research. He also extended his thanks to the Advisor to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques and Emir of Makkah HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal for opening the forum on behalf of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques and for his support and follow up provided for whatever help the pilgrims to perform their rituals in comfort and safety. 

It didn’t escape his notice to thank the Minister of Education Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Al-Issa for his support to the march of the education and scientific research at Umm Al-Qura University besides those in charge of the Institute and the forum’s organizing committee. 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, he received a memorial gift on this occasion, after that the activities of the forum started with the scientific sessions. 

It should be noted here that the opening ceremony of the forum was attended by the mayor of Makkah Eng. Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Mohammad Alqwaihis, a number of their excellences and researchers, and the officials in the sectors relevant to Hajj and Umrah Affairs.