By Abdulfattah AdeniyiAbdulmajeed, Former National President, Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria
A Discussant presentation at the Hajj Stakeholders Conference organized by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) between 1st and 2nd July 2017, 7th – 8th Shaawal, 1438 AH by By Abdulfattah AdeniyiAbdulmajeed, The National President, Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON).
Synopsis:
This paper is focused on the need for professionalization of Hajj management in Nigeria. We start off the discourse by having a good understanding of what professionalism encompasses viz: Concept, Characteristics, Skills, Ethnical standards and competencies. Having laid the foundation of what professionalism entails, we examine the institutional support framework that would support the professionalization of Hajj management in Nigeria. We undertook a review of the current support framework in terms of the legal/regulations, regulatory institutions, capacity building, operations, research & development and quality assurance. Next, we consider the issues and challenges that might confront the establishment and management of support institutions for professionalising Hajj Management in Nigeria and suggested some way forward. Finally, we x-ray the prospects and challenges of professionalizing Hajj management in Nigeria followed by far-reaching conclusions and recommendations.
Permit me to stand on existing protocol. May I seize this opportunity to show appreciation to the organizers of this Conference, for allowing me to participate as a discussant on the topic: TOWARDS PROFESSIONALIZING HAJJ AND UMRAH OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA: THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK. May I also use this medium to congratulate the Commission on a decade of very successful Hajj operations.
To professionalize, simply put is to make, constitute an activity into a series of job that requires special education, training or skill and may also require a formal qualification.
One of my referred professors, teacher and mentor once accosted me at a public gathering and he said, ‘Abdulfattah, the Hajj Tour operators have disappointed pilgrims as usual.’ My response, ‘Sir! Who did they entrust their money for the hajj trip to? An Imam, Islamic scholar, Assalatu Missioner or a certified Tour Operator? My mentor went blank because he could not draw a line of difference between the aforementioned personalities.
Up until now, majority of those handling the affairs of pilgrims at the states were chosen because they bear Muslim-like names and not necessarily because they understood Islam, rather, majority, if not all, the reason for entrusting the job of hajj to them was and is still because they are career civil servants. For these categories of Hajj and Umrah managers, little attention is often paid to whether the Hujjaj performed the Hajj rites correctly or not. What is of topmost priority is for the visas to be processed after the accommodations have been secured and at the end of the outbound and inbound airlifts the hajj is already adjudged to be successful.
I also remember one of the Tour operators asking me and another colleague where the haraam is? We corrected him on several occasions that it is Haram and not Haraam, but he could not understand the difference, yet he has his money to venture into the lucrative business of Hajj and Umrah.
The above explained why, it cannot be business, as usual, any longer, if our hope is to make the hajj performance a Mabrur.
For purposes of clarity I have read several books on Hajj and Umrah and I am not done yet, but there are very few, if at all any, touching on the Hajj operations that the discuss is based on well informed and knowledge of the Hajj operations. All the books that I have read, I cannot remember any, discussing the requirements for company incorporation and Hajj Licensing. I have not come across books on the role of government and regulatory agencies in Hajj operations and laws, statutes relating to Hajj and Umrah operations both in Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Our scholars are well versatile and grounded in the hajj rites, no doubt, but the other aspect of human and crowd management, (in reality a well-coordinated, seamless LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT) and recent developments in Hajj management have been in the deficit over the years and have not been well captured by them. It is only experience and enlightenment that will make one to know that there are a lot of people who have not left their villages before, not to talk of board an airplane or aircraft, not only this, how many people in Nigeria have ever used the lift before going on Hajj. The casualties in injuries and sometimes deaths recorded in the past would have been averted through training. It is still very fresh in our memories, that pilgrim, who did not know how to operate the lift, until he got to the top of the building tower and the only decision that seemed reasonable to him was to jump and he lost his life in the process.
Put in another way how many mosques across the globe have several gates leading into it, not to talk about as many as 99 gates leading to the Grand Haram in Makkah. It takes a lot of training and experience for one to take it as a matter of priority to educate the pilgrims not to leave their shoes or slippers in front of the door as they are used to in Nigeria. Not only this, those that are used to putting there shoes in the shoe racks will also needed to be told to hold on to their shoes as much as practicable and that if they must put it in the shoe rack they should note the gate number and the shoe rack number as well because there are more than a thousand shoes racks in the Haramain. We are also living witnesses to the fact that 20 people cannot go for Tawaaf round the Ka’bah and finished at the same time, that will require the services of sub group leaders who should have been well known to the pilgrims and where the pilgrim went missing the telephone is the best instrument or the pilgrim should just come back to the Haram and any other options available.
Issues relating to visa processing, Mahram related rules, travels and types of international passport, documentations and meeting of deadlines and the associated costs with failure to adhere strictly to set deadlines and other logistics related issues such as the management of the online registration, otherwise referred to as e-track, documentations and passport administration at the Muassasa, Adillah, wokkallah and Naqobah to mention but a few.
Peculiar nature of air travels and group bookings for pilgrims well ahead, and also related are the facilities to be enjoyed before the flight and the in-flight services. It is, for instance, the duty of the operator to tell the airline the kind of wheelchair required for a pilgrim because the type required to take one from the departure lounge is different from the one required inside the aircraft. One can also book special food to take care of the health requirements of the pilgrims including food permitted by one’s faith, baggage allowance and management of the extra luggage. Issues relating to jet lag, especially for first-time travellers. This is the fatigue syndrome and symptoms that travellers feel when crossing multiple time zones and in long air travels.
Scheduled Flights booking arrangement is different from charter both have their peculiarities. Other issues such as special fares, children and infants and penalties/implications involved in no-show and missing one’s flight.
Welcoming and receiving the Hujjaj at the Airports and the documentations, how the pilgrims should comport themselves at the immigration points and the waiting period at arrival lounge, so also is the process involved in luggage collection, sorting out issues relating to missing luggage. Also of importance is attachment of the Maktab or field office number and exchange of the travelers cheque into Riyals at the banks’ in Jeddah international airport and arrangements of pilgrims into groups of 49 for purposes of transportation.
Budgeting, accounting, record-keeping, multiple exchange rates and issues relating to fund transfers and money laundering.Tour brochure and price quotations, determining the fares in the face of several uncertainties and the need to separate the personal accounts of owners from that of the company.
Hajj and umrah Marketing, Canvassing for pilgrims and arranging them in a manageable way, pairing of pilgrims for the journey particularly where the issue of Mahram is pertinent, land transport or train services and accommodation. This is very necessary, especially in relation to travel dates and Mahram related issues and the requirement needs of the aged.
Mashaer and its peculiar challenges, whether in relation to the movements to Muna, Arafat, Muzdalifah and Makkah and the associated crowd management.
How is the communications to be properly handled and well managed to avert crisis and tent related challenges, this is in addition to the climatically posed challenges and the need to be well prepared for it beforehand. When crisis occurred how should the operators handle the situation, like the unfortunate events of hajj 2015, may it never occur again.
Stress management can also be added to this list, especially on arrival in Makkah and the need to perform the Umrah almost immediately. The stress management at the Mashaer and during the Ayyamul Tashrik, adequate knowledge on how to handle stress, may reduce a great deal the number of stress-related deaths recorded during each hajj operations.
The feeding arrangements too and exporting of Nigerian food and the associated problems with making Nigerian dishes available in the kingdom. This is also another area of opportunity waiting to be tapped. For instance, one of the states in a particular year, airlifted more than a hundred million Naira worth of food to the holy land during the hajj season of that year.
Political, economic issues and recent developments in hajj operations makes it’s professionalization very imperative, if truth must be told the days of hajj subsidies are over both here in Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the kingdom, the economic importance of hajj as a veritable instrument of Tourism and it’s economic importance is gradually taking the center stage.
PROFESSIONALISM:
My understanding of this is the competence or skills expected of a professional.
1- Sound knowledge of Islam
2- Adequate knowledge of the history of hajj
3- Practical knowledge of Hajj rites and its performance
4- Sound knowledge of the laws governing Hajj operations both in Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi.
5- Sound knowledge of the roles of the various agencies involved with Hajj operations in Nigeria
6- Sound knowledge of the roles of the various agencies involved in hajj operations in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
7- Sound knowledge of travel and tour management
8- Issues relating to ticketing, charters and scheduled flight arrangements and baggage policies.
9- Hajj education and enlightenment, including the use of the Mass and Social media.
10- Competence in the use of the ICT
11- Land transport, train and logistics handling.
12- Sound knowledge of Hotels and accommodation, types, arrangements and languages related to this segment of the industry
13- Restaurants and Catering services
14- Mashaer and its peculiar nature. The tents, transportation
15- Management of the medical needs of the pilgrims
16- Insurance and Takaful requirements in Air travels
17- Processing and Handling of the travel documents: Visa processing and decorum at the Embassy, Muassasa, Adillah, Wokkallah and Car syndicates among others.
18- Customer Relations and pilgrims’ classifications.
19- Accounting, budgeting and funding of hajj operations, including fare determination and Exchange rates management.
20- Financial Intermediation.
21- Security and safety challenges during the pilgrimage.
22- issues relating to cultural differences and climatic conditions.
23- Communication skills with pilgrims and relevant agencies.
24- Crowd and crisis management and safety tips.
25- Issues in Corporate governance.
26- Proficiency in English and Arabic.
27- The section of the various Saudi visions relating to Hajj and Umrah operations.
28- Hajj and Umrah marketing and advertising.
29- The Custodian of the two holy mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research.
30-The political and economic issues relating to Hajj and Umrah.
In the final draft report of a committee set up by NAHCON on establishment of Hajj training institute of Nigeria, I have lifted below the objectives and expected training programs of the proposed institute.
Objectives of the Institute
- To organize training, workshops, conferences, seminars and discussion forum on the proper and adequate handlings of Hajj/Umrah and Hujjaj.
- To collect, analyse and document data on the efficient management, smooth operations and adequate handling of Hajj affairs.
iii. To undertake and promote research in handling various aspects of Hajj and Umrah
iiii. To publish books, manuals, pamphlets and video clips etcon enlightenment and education of intending pilgrims and officials.
- To train teachers, preachers and Hajj welfare officials in disseminating the knowledge of Hajj/Umrah and how to handle and manage the Hujjaj.
- To develop enlightenment, mobilization and sensitization programmes on Hajj and Umrah.
vii. To strengthen intellectual dialogue in discussing and handling Hajj affairs in Nigeria.
viii. To set the minimum standard expected in Hajj operations.
INSTITUTE
4.1 Training Programmes:
Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) shall design and implement training programmes in core and allied related services of Hajj, Umrah and tour operations in Nigeria and abroad. These include;
- Hajj Operations and Management
- Pilgrims’ registration and documentation
- Pilgrims screening
- Tour Operators (functions, challenges, etc.)
- The Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (functions, challenges, etc.)
- Monitoring and Evaluation of Service Providers
- The concept of capability in Hajj in modern times
- Working partners of NAHCON (Saudi Ministry, Saudi Embassy, etc.)
- NGOs and their involvement in Hajj operations in Nigeria
- History of Hajj Management in Nigeria
- NAHCON and other Regulatory agencies (its mandate, organizational structure, activities, challenges, etc.)
- Service Providers in Saudi Arabiaand in Nigeria
- Data Processing and Records Management
- The Role of ICT in Hajj Management
iii. Risk Management
- Financial Management
- Protocol and Visa Management
- Travel Management
vii. Logistics and Transport Management
viii. Welfare Packages and Management
- Service design and Management
- Products packaging and Marketing Strategy
- Pilgrims’ Education and Orientation
- Challenges of Nigerian women in Hajj
- The Miqat of Nigerian pilgrims
- Tafsir of verses related to Hajj
- Philosophy of Hajj
- Morals of behaviour in Hajj
- Hajj and facilitation, based on Shariah texts and aims
- The farewell pilgrimage, rituals and values
- The Prophet’s pilgrimage
- Frequently asked questions and answers
xii. Aviation Induction Course
xiii. Media relations and Report writing
xiiii. Procurement and Business Management
- Hotel and Catering Services Management
xvi. Arabic and English Proficiency Skills
xvii. Islamic Education.
The institutional support framework for professionalizing Hajj management in Nigeria and Establishment and Management of support institutions are well captured in the report on Establishment of Hajj training institute of Nigeria, that it does not required to be repeated in this paper.
PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES:
An industry worth several million of dollars, involving movement of millions of people every year and several activities and rites at specified periods and places, does not need any other proof of its prospects. I remember, that in one of our meetings with one of the then Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, the diplomat said and I am quoting him, “Oil will dry up one day but Hajj will never dry up till the end of time.”
As for the envisaged challenges, I think the most important and most obvious to me is procrastination to set the ball rolling. The take-off of this Institute is needed as soon as yesterday. The other area of concern is the submission on the legal framework by the committee on HIN, which is as follows:
“Legal Framework of the Institute
There is no clear legal framework for the proposed Institute, though the Legal Department of the Commission in their submission to the committee relies on the Section 4,paragraph (g & i) of NAHCON Establishment Act (See appendix I).
The committee also suggested that Section 4 paragraph (j) should be put into consideration.
Since there is no clarity on the legal backing for the Institute from the submissions made available to the committee, the following options are to be considered:
Option 1: To review and amend NAHCON’s Act to create a legal backing for the Institute
Option 2: To incorporate the Institute as a Legal entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act either as a Limited Liability Company or as a Company Limited by Guarantee (The preferred option of the committee).”
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
The need for professionalizing Hajj and Umrah operations cannot be overemphasized in view of the submission above as soon as possible. I am seizing this opportunity to request that I be allowed to move the motion that NAHCON should commence with activities for the ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HAJJ TRAINING INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA (HIN), immediately and without any further delay in line with the various views canvassed here today as well as based on the report of the committee on the Establishment of Hajj training institute of Nigeria as a means of professionalizing Hajj and Umrah operations in Nigeria.
Once again, I congratulate NAHCON for a very successful decade of existence, while encouraging NAHCON, not to relent or rest on its oars. As we enter into the next decade of NAHCON existence, we should make the best use of the various views already canvassed and yet to canvassed to make the next decade a more prosperous one for Hajj operations, not only in Nigeria but globally. Thanks.
References:
1- NATIONAL HAJJ COMMISSION OF NIGERIA (NAHCON) , (ESTABLISHMENT) ACT, 2006.
2- FOUNDATION IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM COURSE TEXTBOOK 1: 5.13 edition.
3- OXFORD DICTIONARIES
4- REPORT OF A COMMITTEE SET UP BY NAHCON ON ESTABLISHMENT OF HAJJ TRAINING INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA
5- THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES INSTITUTE FOR HAJJ AND UMRAH RESEARCH. UMM AL- QURA UNIVERSITY MAKKAH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.
6- TABUNG HAJJ MALAYSIA AS A WORLD ROLE MODEL OF ISLAMIC MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS.
7- SAUDI ARABIA’S VISION 2030.
APENDIX:
THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES INSTITUTE FOR HAJJ AND UMRAH RESEARCH. UMM AL- QURA UNIVERSITY MAKKAH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
Overview
The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is striving to provide all means to help pilgrims achieve their desires and perform their rituals easily and conveniently by harnessing scientific research and modern technology methods to accomplish one of the noble tasks and means of gaining nearness to Allah.
The establishment of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah research in Umm Al-Qura University was one of the tasks dedicated to facilitate the rituals and to pay more concern to the religious rituals as general.
Establishment:
The Institute has developed over many years from a research unit at King Abdul-Aziz University in 1395H, tasked with improving statistics of immolated animals (whether immolated animals are offered by pilgrims “Hadei”, or ordinary people “Adhahi”), to a Hajj research center in 1401, and a technical and consultancy body for the Higher Committee of Hajj and all other agencies working in Hajj researches, until the issuance of the royals decree transferring the Center to Umm Al-Qura University in 1403, under a higher supervisory committee chaired by HRH Prince Niaf bin Abdul-Aziz, the Crown Prince, the then deputy premier and minister of interior and the Chairman of the Higher Committee of Hajj-May Allah have mercy on him-.
In a step towards a new era, of a broader horizon and a comprehensive vision, a royal decree was issued in 1418 H, changing the center’s name to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj Research.
Subsequently, development strides continued including the establishment of Madinah branch, and then the Center of Excellence in Hajj and Umrah Research in 1428 H to focus on the applied researches and attracting the infrastructure solutions technologies for transportation, traffic and crowd management.
History of the Institute in points:
– In 1399H Hajj season , the Center started simulation models of mountain camps. These camps were visited by HRH Prince Naif bin Abdul-Aziz, the Minister of Interior –May All have Mercy on his soul-. On 17TH of JumadaI, the 1ST meeting of the Center’s Higher Supervisory Committee was held under the chairmanship of HRH the Minister of Interior.
– On 19th of Sha’aban 1403H, a royal decree was issued allocating the old royal palace in Mina to be the headquarter of the Center.
– In 1403 Hajj season, the decision of banning small vehicles from entering into the Holy Sites was functional, as recommended by the Center.
– In 1403H Hajj season, the Center started to utilize the sacrificial meat by establishing the Saudi project for Utilization of Hajj Meat. In that year, the Center utilized the meats of 113 thousand head of animals.
– In 1410H Hajj season, shaded roads were made for pedestrians, as recommended by the Center.
– In 1412 H Hajj season, the Center conducted a simulation to prevent sleeping above and below Jamarat Bridge.
– In Dhul-Qi‘dah 1413H, the Center organized its first symposium under the name of (Housing in Hajj).
– On the 1st of RabeiI 1414H, the meeting of the supervisory committee was held and many significant decisions were adopted to develop the Center.
– In 1414H the pedestrians roads were improved, as recommended by the Center.
– In 1415H Hajj season, the traffic flow over the upper Jammarat Bridge was made a one-way street after rebuilding and reorganizing the eastern part of the Bridge, as recommended by the Center
– On the 28th JumadaII 1416H, the 2nd symposium was organized under the title of (Media in Hajj), in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Council.
– In 1416H Hajj season, a limited simulation of transportation by shuttle-buses from Arafat to Muzdalifa was carried out. The design, planning and operation were fully managed by the Center.
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In 1417H Hajj Season, a simulation of transportation by shuttle-buses was expanded to include Muzdalifa-Mina phase, after completing number of preparations in roads, bridges and car-parking.
– On the 14th of Muharam 1417H, the 2nd meeting of the Higher Supervisory Committee of Hajj Research Center was held.
– On the 27th of JumadaII 1418H, the 3rd symposium of the Center was organized under the title of voluntary services.
– In 1418H Hajj season, the 1st phase of fireproof tents project was completed.
– On the 20th of JumadaII 1418H, the 3rd meeting of the Higher Supervisory Committee of Hajj Research Center was held.
– In 1418H Hajj season, a symposium on the safety of the holy sites was organized.
– In 1418H Hajj season, the study of using alternatives of cooking gas in Mina was carried out.
– On 17th of JumadaI 1419H, the 4th meeting of the Higher Supervisory Committee of Hajj Research Center was held.
– On the 3rd of RabeiI 1421H, the 100th meeting of the Hajj Central Committee was held under the chairmanship of HRH Prince Abdul-Mageed bin Abdul-Aziz –My Allah have mercy on his soul, at the Institute’s headquarter in Azizia.
– In 1422 H Hajj season, the symposium of Hajj researches was held under the title: “Exploration of future prospects”.
– In 1422H Hajj season, the major scientific Hajj Symposium was held.
– In 1423H Hajj season, the 1st scientific symposium on the infectious diseases of livestock and their impact on the health of the pilgrims, was organized.
– In 1424H, the symposium of the animal diseases was held.
– In Safar 1425H, the Center participated in the scientific meeting related to creativity and comprehensiveness of charity work during Hajj seasons.
– In Safar1425H, HRH Prince Abdul-Mageed bin Abdul-Aziz –My Allah have mercy on his soul, launched geographic database for housing and pilgrim services in Makkah.
– In Rajab1425 H, HRH Price Naif bin Abdul-Aziz approved formation of a committee to educate pilgrims in their countries, (membership of the institute).
– In Ramadan 1425H, and as commissioned by the public security, the Institute developed traffic maps for the Holy Sites.
– In Shawal 1425H, the Institute participated in the scientific and cultural events of the Saudi Universities in the Yemeni universities.
– On 15th of Dhul-Qaeda 1425H, the Institute won the award of the first integrated work at the exhibition organized on the sidelines of the International Conference of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications, in the Middle East and Africa region in Dubai.
– On 26th of Muharam 1426H the Institute participated in Cairo International Book Fair.
– On 21st of Jumada I 1426H, the Institute won the award of the best scientific research at Dubai International Conference for Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing in the Middle East.
– On the 1st of Jumada I 1426H, the Institute celebrated graduation of the 2nd and 3rd batches of its female students who obtained diploma of Hajj and Umrah Management in Madinah, under sponsorship of HRH Prince Muqran bin bub Abdul-Aziz.
– On the 22nd of Ramadan 1426H, HRH Prince Naif bin Abdul-Aziz discussed the developmental steps of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj Research, and chaired the Higher Supervisory Committee of the Institute.
– In Muharam 1427H, HRH Prince Mamdouh bin Abdul-Aziz reviewed researches of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute.
– On the 25th of Safar 1427H, HRH Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Majid sponsored the 1st scientific meeting of Hajj research in Madinah.
– On the10th of RabeiII 1427H, the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute organized the 1stcultural week at King Fahad Cultural Center in Sarajevo, in collaboration with Kingdom’s embassy in the Republic of Bosnian and Herzegovina.
– In Ramadan 1427H, Institute of Hajj Research studied results of removing the line marking the beginning of Tawaf.
– On the 4th of Rabei II 1428H, the 5th meeting of the Higher Supervisory Committee of the Institute was held.
– In Ramadan 1428H, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal sponsored the meeting of the researchers of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute and reviewed the studies of the Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka’ba) doers, and crowd management in Holy Mosque.
– In Shawal 1428H, Iyad bin Amin Madani launched the cultural days in Turkey, including the Institute’s Two Holy Mosques Exhibition.
– In Dhul-Qaeda 1428H, the Institute participated in the Saudi cultural days in Algeria.
– On the 25th of Safar 1429 H, HRH Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Majid sponsored the 2nd scientific meeting of Hajj research in Madinah.
– On the 21st of RabeiI, King Salman launched the project of the Hajj and Two Holy Mosques Encyclopedia.
– On 25th of RabeiI1429H, the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, engineers and experts offered a proposals to expand Sa’i area (walking between Safa and Marwa). The proposals were supported by evidences, opinions of the experts, geologists, engineers and eyewitnesses.
In spite of the similarity of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj Research to other scientific research institutes, in adherence to scientific methods such as extrapolation, experimentation, or measurement, and in following work performance techniques such as receiving research projects, studying them in detail, besides the temporary reports methods used and etc.., the uniqueness and individuality of the Institute at the global level emanates from the fact that its serving a unique event and an unparalleled gathering. For that reason its research objectives vary from other global institutes for having sphere of competence related to Hajj, Holy Sites and the Two Holy Cities and whatever related to them in terms of planning, environmental and human affairs.
Within the same vein, the Hajj researches are also difficult for being conducted in few and specific days during the year to collect data and carryout measurements and study people of from different nationalities, languages and levels. As such, the time factor is very significant in such researches and studies as the opportunity comes one time a year.
Concluding, the Institute exert such efforts with the help of Allah, the almighty in the first place, and then the continuing support and personal attention of the rulers, May Allah bless them and all the officials in the agencies related to Hajj issues and services.
Mission
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research seeks to offer studies, research, consulting and training programs, as well as community services to develop an integrated and sustainable system for Hajj and Umrah, in realization of the intentions of Shari’a .
Vision:
The Institute aspires to become a leading scientific and consultative reference in researches and applications of Hajj and Umrah.
Objectives:
The objectives of the Institute are:
- To establish data bank about Hajj and Umrah to be a comprehensive scientific reference of different types of statistics and facts, and then designing a simulation model of different Hajj operations, in a manner which provides much help for planning.
- To create an integrated historical archive including studies, documents, pictures, films, maps, historical manuscripts of Hajj, Makkah, and Madinah to be permanent scientific and historical reference.
- To maintain environment, the same way that Allah has made in the holy places, besides maintaining Islamic environment in Makkah and Madinah.
- To develop services and facilities provided for Hajj and Umrah and increase their operational capacities.
Tasks:
The tasks of the Institute focus on conducting studies and researches which aimed at facilitating performance of the rituals, and providing better services for pilgrims visiting the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet mosque in Madinah. The Institute carries out its tasks by means of studying the status quo, collecting detailed information about the different aspects and phases of Hajj and Umrah, besides figuring out the requirements of the pilgrims and visitors and services and facilities provided for them. That is all to have a clear picture about the prevailing conditions, then to pinpoint pros and cons, to boost the former and address the latter.
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