Umm Al-Qura University journals are committed to conducting rigorous double-blind peer review—wherein neither the reviewers nor the authors know each other's identities—to guarantee an objective evaluation of all submitted manuscripts. All submissions undergo an initial screening by the Editorial Board to assess their suitability for publication in the journal. Manuscripts deemed appropriate are subsequently referred to at least two independent expert peer reviewers specialized in the relevant discipline to assess their scholarly merit. The final decision to accept or reject any manuscript rests exclusively with the Editor-in-Chief, whose decision is binding.
To uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency, members of the Editorial Board recuse themselves from decisions regarding manuscripts they have co-authored, those submitted by family members or colleagues, or any submission involving products or services in which they hold a direct interest. Such manuscripts remain subject to the standard peer review workflow, administered independently to ensure absolute fairness and impartiality.
Use of Artificial Intelligence by Reviewers
Reviewers are pivotal to the integrity of scholarly publishing. Editorial decisions rely substantially on their thorough evaluations and specialized recommendations, thereby ensuring the dissemination of credible, robust, and high-quality research. Reviewers are appointed based on their demonstrated expertise in the manuscript’s subject matter or methodological framework.
Reviewers assume full professional responsibility for the scholarly accuracy and perspectives presented in their reports. The peer review system is founded upon mutual trust among authors, reviewers, and the Editorial Board. Although generative artificial intelligence tools continue to advance, they present critical limitations, including the risk of generating inaccurate, biased, or fabricated information. Furthermore, manuscripts often contain proprietary or sensitive data that must remain strictly confidential. Consequently, reviewers are strongly advised against uploading or processing submitted manuscripts using generative AI tools.
The Peer Review Workflow
Umm Al-Qura University journals uphold the highest benchmarks of integrity, rigor, and transparency in scholarly publishing. Rigorous peer review constitutes a foundational pillar in safeguarding the caliber and credibility of published research. Below is an overview of the established peer review process:
Manuscript Submission and Initial Screening
Upon receipt, each manuscript is reviewed by the Editorial Board to verify its alignment with the journal's scope and focus. Manuscripts that meet these preliminary requirements proceed to the next stage.Reviewer Selection
Subject-matter expertise is essential for evaluating the academic and scholarly value of a manuscript. Accordingly, reviewers with dedicated expertise in the manuscript’s domain are meticulously selected. Reviewers may include members of the Editorial Board or highly qualified external experts.Double-Blind Peer Review
Umm Al-Qura University journals employ a double-blind peer review model, ensuring that the identities of both authors and reviewers remain mutually anonymous. This guarantees unbiased evaluation and mitigates potential conflicts of interest.
Manuscript Evaluation
Reviewers are requested to evaluate the following dimensions:
Originality and scholarly contribution to the journal’s scope
Methodological soundness and rigor
Clarity, coherence, and structure of the argument
Quality, currency, and accuracy of citations
Adherence to ethical and academic standards
Reviewer feedback must remain professional, constructive, and strictly focused on scholarly merits.
Reviewer Recommendations
Each reviewer is required to submit a recommendation, selecting one of the following decisions:
Accept with minor revisions
Reject with an invitation to resubmit following substantial revisions
Final rejection (no resubmission permitted)
Each recommendation must be substantiated by clear and comprehensive evaluations.
Editorial Decision
The Editorial Board reviews the evaluation reports and renders the final decision. In cases where reviewers’ recommendations diverge, an additional reviewer may be appointed, or the Editorial Board may issue a determination based on professional editorial judgment.
Revision and Resubmission
When revisions are requested, the author receives detailed feedback and is granted the opportunity to refine and enhance the manuscript prior to the final publication decision.
Ethical Considerations
Submissions are rigorously vetted for plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and scientific and methodological integrity.
Timely Evaluation
The journals are committed to an efficient review process, aiming to minimize turnaround times between initial submission and publication without compromising the thoroughness of the evaluation.
Transparency
We maintain operational transparency by sharing reviewers' evaluative feedback with authors (while preserving complete reviewer anonymity) and providing explicit rationale for editorial decisions.
Through these structured procedures, Umm Al-Qura University journals endeavor to maintain exemplary standards of excellence, fairness, and credibility across the peer review process, thereby strengthening the trust of authors, reviewers, and the academic community at large.