The King Salman Chair for Studies on the History of Makkah aims to maintain the glorious history of the civilization of the holiest part of the world and the birthplace of the revelation. It gained the attention of the kings of great Saudi Arabia to preserve its security, safety, architecture, and development, especially taking care of its history and the most prominent achievements made in the prosperous Saudi era.

Today, the academic chair continues its sublime mission by issuing a book on the cultural history of Makkah in light of the Egyptians' travels (to Makkah) from 1318 to 1373 A.H. The book was launched by the President of Umm Al-Qura University, Prof. Moaddi bin Muhammad Aal Madh-hab, in the presence of His Excellency the UQU Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, Dr. Fahd Al-Zahrani, the Dean of Scientific Research, Dr. Basim Al-Kazhimi, the Chair Professor, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sharif, and the main researcher of the book, Prof. Ibrahim Jalal Ahmad.

The President of the University emphasized the role of the chair in supporting academic production and the sustainability of knowledge by organizing projects and cultural events consistent with the university’s aspirations, enabling the chair to become a scientific reference that reflects the development witnessed by Makkah over the ages. These efforts are in line with the care the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah protect him, accords to the history of Makkah as well as his interest in research related to its restoration and the qualitative shifts witnessed in the architecture of the Grand Mosque and the holy sites.

On his part, the Chair Professor, Abdullah Al-Sharif, stated that the book is the 22^nd publication of the academic chair's research series, which includes 56 published scientific papers. He also added that the chair has presented many academic and cultural activities, such as seminars, exhibitions, and lectures. This comes in the context of highlighting the history of Makkah and its study based on modern research mechanisms, thanks to the efforts of the male and female researchers of the university, thereby seeking leadership in deepening the knowledge of the civilization of Makkah, the city that attracts the attention of Muslims all over the world.

The authors of the book, Prof. Ibrahim Jalal Ahmad, Dr. Walid Muhammad Mustafa, and Ms. Hala Ahmad Abdul-Raziq, documented and studied all the Egyptians' trips to Makkah, describing the customs and traditions of the Makkan society and the impact of the environment on their lives through the eyes of the travelers at the time. The book also highlights the most important religious and civilizational features and monuments along with the cultural diversity of Makkah. It tracks the progress of education before and during the prosperous Saudi era and also portrays the different aspects of Hajj, the health and security conditions, the social solidarity, the judicial system, and the service facilities in the area.