President of Umm Al Qura University (UQU) Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Bin Bakri Assas has sent greetings over the successful organization of Hajj to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Khaled Al Faisal, Emir of Makkah and advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and head of Hajj Commission in Madina Prince Faisal bin Salman. The President praised efforts exerted during Hajj this year, 1437H, when pilgrims have safely observed the rites.

In the same context, Dr. Assas highlighted efforts exerted by the university, represented in the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research.

He said the institute receives careful attention from the King, his Crown Prince and the Deputy Crown Prince. It is established to provide high class research-dependent services for all pilgrims, according to Dr. Assas who added that the institute includes a number of departments established for that end including Administrative and Humanitarian Research, Environment and Health Research, Architectural and Engineering Research, Media Research and Information and Scientific Services.

During Hajj this year, the institute provided 27 studies and programs of action that were carried out by 80 main researchers and 300 students, according to Dr. Assas. Every year, the institute takes part in preparation for Dhul-Hijjah month to perfect the Hajj and Umrah cycle of organization, he added.

Also, the startup companies at UQU's Wadi Makkah, under the Saudi Vision 2030, have supplied a number of high-tech devices at the Holy Mosque in Makkah along with other holy places to serve pilgrims, according to Dr. Assas who said the provided technologies included a vehicle tracking system to locate pilgrims' buses on holy place maps. Lorries were installed in specific locations around the holy places to collect information from buses for analysis and giving pictorial description for the movement, Dr. Assas added.

An application (Almaqsd) was developed to provide audio guide and a 3D map for the Holy Mosque in Makkah. It collects data via a number of sensors that were installed in different spots at the mosque. Another application was developed and launched by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah (Manasikana) that helps pilgrims and provide information on the rituals and at airports. It is available in seven languages and gives technologies in cooperation with the General Cars Syndicate (Naqaba) and Holy Makkah Municipality.