The Deputy Minister of Education for Universities, Research and Innovation, Dr. Hatim Al-Marzouqi, visited the UQU Pavilion at the 8th International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education (IECHE) held in Riyadh today, Wednesday, 5 Sha`ban, 1440 A.H., and lauded the aesthetics and theme of the UQU Pavilion.

His Excellency Dr. Hatim Al-Marzouqi expressed his happiness at visiting the UQU Pavilion at the IECHE, underlining that the UQU assumes its refined status among the leading local and international universities. He also mentioned that UQU has made numerous achievements in the fields of scientific research and innovation, pointing out the outstanding achievements made by Wadi Makkah Company for Technology which is one of the significant outcomes of the UQU research efforts.

His Excellency Dr. Hatim Al-Marzouqi underlined that the UQU displays commendable keenness on achieving its ambitious development goals, and constantly develops specialized academic programs that support the development of the Saudi higher education, in general, and the areas of research and innovation, in particular.

His Excellency Dr. Hatim Al-Marzouqi was received by His Excellency the UQU President, Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, who lauded Dr. Hatim Al-Marzouqi's significant role in promoting innovation and scientific research in Saudi universities at the local and international levels.

Moreover, His Excellency the UQU President, Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, pointed out that the UQU Pavilion was designed and organized exclusively by UQU students and academic staff, noting that their distinguished participation reflect their great accomplishments, as far as adopting the cutting-edge academic and research methods was concerned.

His Excellency added, "The UQU Pavilion at the IECHE showcased a number of applications credited to the UQU scientific research efforts and developed by the Wadi Makkah Company for Technology at Umm Al-Qura University.” He highlighted some examples, such as the "Makkah Clock", which works with a mechanism that makes the hands of the clock rotate in the direction of Tawaf, and the "Al-Maqsid" navigation application, developed in cooperation with the Project Management and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Unit at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, one of the great applications developed and implemented by one of the start-ups affiliated to Wadi Makkah Company for Technology.

The application depends on core blue low energy sensors, and sends signals to the user's mobile to determine his\her current location inside the Holy Mosques. The application provides voice directions for users, in Arabic and English, and three-dimensional maps, without the need for any internet connection.