The UQU President, Dr. Bakri bin Maatooq Assas, has met with the dean of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, Dr. Atef bin Hussein Asghar. Dr. Assas was briefed on the workflow of the Madinah-based institute, as well as its current and future studies. Held at the meeting room of the institute, the meeting was attended by the vice-deans and department heads of the institute.

The Institute Dean, Dr. Asghar, stated that the studies conducted by the institute over the past years covered a myriad of topics, including: ways to facilitate visiting al-Baqee', establishing a pedestrian road between Quba Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, measuring and classifying solid wast at visitors' lodgings, and measuring the waiting time spent by pilgrims at Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Airport.

The studies having to do with the Prophet's Mosque, he added, focused on the ways to facilitate performance of prayers at Rawdah, an visiting the Prophet's Chamber, as well as organizing the work of street vendors at squares, corridors and the central zone of the Prophet's Mosque, in addition to preparing a guide for the figures and symbols used in the Prophet's Mosque.

Dr. Asghar mentioned that the Institute forms research groups to conduct ground-breaking studies, in cooperation with all bodies and agencies concerned with serving the Prophet's Mosque visitors. In this spirit, the institute organizes seminars and workshops to come up with applicable solutions.

The Institute, according to Dr. Asghar, envisages gathering, analyzing and classifying all Hajj- and Umrah-related data, so as to come up with predictions that would help develop and improve the services provided to pilgrims. It also looks forward to conducting environmental research across the Madinah districts and neighborhoods, and to covering a multiplicity of topics and research areas: transportation, crossings and pedestrian roads at the central zone, parks, developing the guiding map of the central area, management and organization of mass movement at the Prophet's Mosque, and many other research proposals meant to serve the Prophet's Mosque visitors. 

At this juncture, Dr. Asghar indicated, the Institute is bound to activate cooperation agreements with all the parties concerned, and boost its potentials and infrastructure, as well as establishing the labs and research centers necessary for conducting research. He praised the Governor of Madinah, HRH Prince Faisal bin Salman, for his keen interest in, and generous support for the studies conducted by the Institute for the advantage of the Prophet's Mosque visitors.

He lauded also the unstinting support and close follow-up by the UQU President of all the Institute's activities in Makkah and Madinah. "It is that support that made our success possible," said Dr. Asghar.

For his part, the Vice Dean of the Institute in Madinah, Dr. Ahmed Qadi, mentioned that the Institute branch in Madinah is bound to conduct numerous studies over the upcoming Hajj seasons. This includes analyzing all data from the various government agencies in Madinah, and making them available at the Hajj & Umrah Information Bank, so as to be a comprehensive, inclusive reference for all relevant statistics and fact sheets that would be of help for decision-makers.

This would also help calculate the Hajj capacity, making it easier to provide apt, adequate services for pilgrims. That is to be added to adopting the "smart city" concept in Madinah. He mentioned that the Institute, jointly with stakeholders, held several workshops with the aim of developing applicable, viable solutions.

It followed that the UQU President, Dr. Assas, commended the support of the government for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research. He also extended thanks and appreciation HRH Prince Khalid al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah, and Chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, for his interest and trust in the Instiute's studies touching on Hajj and Umrah affairs. He also valued the support of HRH Prince Faisal bin Salman, the Governor of Madinah, for the research conducted by the Institute.

He pointed out that the Instituted, staffed with highly qualified and experienced researchers, cover all research questions and aspects relating to do with the pilgrim or visitor starting from his/her arrival through to departure. By so doing, the Institute aims to predict the problems that could undermine the services offered to pilgrims. According to Dr. Assas, the Institute conducts up to 75 studies every year during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. He praised the unremitting efforts exerted by the Institute's dean and staff.

At last, the UQU President made an inspection tour through the various premises and facilities of the Institute. He was accompanied by the dean, vice-deans, and department heads of the Institute, along with the director of Publich Relations and Media, Mr. Khalid bin Jameel Morsi, and Secretary of the UQU President, Mr. Hisham al-Afghani.