The University President and the Chairman of the King Salman ibn Abdul-Aziz Chair Advisory Authority for Makkah History Studies, Dr. Bakri ibn Ma’atuq A’asas lauded the publishing of the book: “the Holy Sites over Ages…. Historical, Cultural Study”. The Chair released it as part of its book series which stand at 20 ones. The book is considered a scientific, historical work, and it was written by a research team made up of nine members of the academic staff at the University History Department.  

Still, Dr Bakri shed light on the role for which the Chair was established: cherishing Makkah’s history. It also mirrors the support which the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman ibn Abdul-aziz lends to history and historians. The Chair was established upon his approval and named after him , and he honored us with initiating its agreements. This is driven by his interest in Makkah-related scientific and historical study and documenting it, and the care he gives to the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.     

For his part, the University Acting President, Dr. Samr ibn Himdan Alharbi praised the Chair’s distinctive research boom as well as the diversity of the topics which tackled Makkah historical studies, especially the achievements of the prosperous Al-Saud reign and their contribution to the cultural events. He went on to commend Dr. Bakri’s support and care and the different fields of the University’s scientific research. He also spoke highly about the efforts made by the Dean of the Scientific Research; and Deputy Chairman of the Chair’s Supervisory Committee, Dr. Faisal ibn Ahmed Ala’alaf in terms of developing the research area of the University’s scientific chairs. In a similar fashion,    he highlighted the role played by the Vice Dean of the Scientific Research Deanship for Scientific Chairs, Dr.   Abdul-Wahab ibn Abdullah Alrisini, the Chair’s Supervisor, Dr, Abdullah Alsherief   as well as the researchers who conducted the historical, documentary and    academic studies adopted by the Chair and   published them.

Within the same vein, the Chair’s Supervisor Dr. Abdullah ibn Hussein Alsherief shed light on the importance of the book and its scientific content. He noted that it is a research project sponsored by the Chair and it is the first of its field. The book covered a thorough documentation for the Holy Sites over ages, and they have not been scientifically tackled over history. It is a base for more profound, detailed studies.  He pointed out that the book touched upon   the Holy Sites’ history from the pre-Islam period to the modern age, their features and their physical character. It also shines light on the political events and incidents they went through, the impact of misfortunes on its security and scientific and cultural atmosphere as well as proselytizing and preaching. In addition to this, it highlighted the economic and environmental aspects during the Hajj season and   their architectural and urban features. 

He went on to add that the book tackled the tremendous development which the Holy Sites witnessed during the Al-Saud reign due to the big rise in the number of the Haj performers. The book also shed light on the care the Holy Sites received from the Kingdom’s kings and the giant service projects they launched. These projects include developing Al-jamarat Bridge, anti-fire tents, roads and means of transportation and communication, the Holy Sites train and building and expanding mosques. Other projects involve the modern slaughterhouse, distributing meat, public utilities, and health services as well as water, electricity, sewage system and cleanliness and charity and food supply projects. Further, it shed light on the security efforts which contributed to making the Haj performers perform their rites in peaceful and smooth way.  

By the same token, the Chair’s Supervisor spoke about the research and cultural achievements the Chair made such as organizing a big scientific symposium about Altwafa (circumambulation) and Mota’awfis (circumambulators), a scientific lecture by the Dutch historian Arnold Frolic about Snuk’s books on Makkah, training course, conducting a scientific tour to Makkah’s scientific sights and a permanent exhibition featuring Makkah’s historical images among others of cultural activities. One more  achievement includes 70 in-depth scientific researches of which 20 books and 35 researches were published, and the remainder are to be published.