The Acting UQU President and the Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research Dr. Thamir bin Hamdan Al-Harbi inaugurated yesterday Wednesday Dhul-Qe'dah 28, 1437H the annual researchers meeting for this year's Hajj season organized by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research. The inauguration ceremony  that took place at the Institute's celebration Hall in Azizia, was attended by  the Dean of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research Dr. Atef bin Hussein Asghar, the Advisor to the Minister of Hajj and Umrah who serves also as the official spokesperson of the Ministry Mr. Hatim bin Hassan Qadhi, and the Institutes Vice Deans and Heads of Departments

In the commencement of the meeting, the Dean of the Institute Dr. Atef Asghar welcomed the acting UQU President and all the attendees and researchers indicating that the Institute contributes by thought and knowledge to achieve the services system in all Hajj and Umrah-related fields. He pointed out that the numerous studies conducting by the institute for this year's Hajj cover a number of fields including; social and economic phenomena, developing system related to pilgrims nutrition and health and their environment safety and cleaning, in addition to developing and evaluating transportation system and crowd management. He went on to add that all these studies focus on monitoring, evaluation, data collection, statistics and analysis to come out with recommendations that can benefit the executive authorities in developing performance and upgrading services.

Further, Dr. Asghar said a total number of 27 studies and programs are under preparation by 80 main researchers, partakers, and assistants as well as 300 support students. He added that these studies include research projects and several programs carried out by the institute annually on Dhul-Hijjah month.

He lauded the boundless support attached to the Institute by UQU President Dr. Bakri Assas and extended his thanks and appreciation to the Acting UQU President for attending this meeting and to all the researchers and employees of the Institute.

Then a number of researchers reviewed some of the studies to be carried out by the Institute during this year's Hajj Season   

For his part, the Acting UQU President Dr. Al-Harbi said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute trip started its tireless efforts in 1403H to become a consultancy body to whatever serves the pilgrims and visitors and important resource of information on Hajj, Umrah, Holy Sites, Makkah, and Madinah. He said that the Institute includes a constellation of scholars and researchers in several departments including;   administrative and humanitarian research, environmental and health research, engineering and urban research, media affairs research and   scientific services and information department. In 1428H, he added the Institute witnessed the signing of the research excellence center contract between the Ministry of Higher Education and University of Umm Al-Qura to start a new stage in its march.  

Concluding, he said the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah research has developed his own pattern in providing research and consultancy services, organizing internal and external scientific meetings and exhibitions  and training courses in the field of Hajj and Umrah and that the university is geared up to support  all fields of cooperation between the Ministry of Hajj and the Institute to serve the pilgrims in such manner that pleases Allah and then to meet aspirations of rulers.