The Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mohamed bin Saleh Bintin witnessed  on Monday Dhul-Qe'dah 24, 1439 H corresponding to August 6, 2018, at the headquarters of the Ministry, signing of two cooperation agreements between the Ministry of Hajj and the University of Umm Al-Qura in the fields of scientific research and studies, technology, applications and consultations besides business acceleration. 

 The Deputy Minister of Hajj Dr. Abdul-Fattah Mashatt represented the Ministry of Hajj, while Umm Al-Qura University was represented its President Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail in the presence of the Dean of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Research Dr. Sami Barhamain and the CEO of Wadi Makkah Dr. Faisal Al-Alaf.  

The first agreement aimed at boosting cooperation and strengthening solidarity to serve the pilgrims and Umrah doers in the fields overseen by the Ministry of Hajj including; scientific research, applications, technology and consultancy studies in the fields of Hajj and Umrah to be conducted via the Custodian of two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Research and the University colleges and institutes besides providing the consultants and specialists with high flexibility in addition to harnessing the scientific research in the issues related to the pilgrims' services.

While the second agreement was aimed at activating the partnership between the Ministry and the University in making incubators and business accelerators, investing in the startups, small and medium enterprises and business incubation, besides supervising and managing the projects and providing the needed qualifications for workers in projects of business incubation.  

The cooperation areas included providing outstanding incubation services for the owners of the promising ideas, turning the ideas into products for investment, providing successful projects for community which have the ability to continue and develop, providing proper environment for the growth of new economic projects besides providing support and guidance in the different stages of the project and opening channels of cooperation between the investors, funders and the owners of the incubated projects.  

For his part, the UQU President Prof. Abdullah Omar Bafail said; signing of these agreements with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah comes within the University's plan and objectives to cooperate with the different sectors  in various fields indicating that the partnership between UQU and the Ministry of Hajj  comes in line with the National Transformation Program 2020 and the Kingdom Vision 2030 to meet the aspirations of the wise leadership. "Thanks to Allah in the first place, the university embraces the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Research, the expertise house in developing system of Hajj and Umrah which contribute through its studies and research to developing all services provided for the pilgrims, and Wadi Makkah Company which provides technology services in the fields of innovation, incubation of ideas, turning ideas into tangible products", he expounded praying to Allah to bestow success upon everyone.