The twenty-five year strategy of Hajj and Umrah
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News – Minister of Hajj, Dr. Bandar ibn Muhammad Hamzah Hajjar, presided over the meeting of the Strategic Committee of the Works of Hajj, Umrah, and Visits of the Prophet s mosque.
The meeting was held at Al-Suhbah Hall in Hayatt Park in Jeddah, on Tuesday, Jumada Al-Awwal 3, 1435 A.H. (corresponding to March 4, 2014 A.C.), and was attended by the deputies of the Ministry of Hajj, the Deputy of the Emirate of the Makkah Region, and representatives of thirteen governmental bodies that included the Emirate of the Makkah Region, the General Directorate of Public Security, the General Directorate of Civil Defense, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Institute for Hajj Research, the Ministry of Defense, and the Saudi Red Crescent.
The meeting was inaugurated by a speech delivered by the Minister of Hajj, Dr. Bandar ibn Muhammad Hajjar, in which he explained the efforts exerted by the Kingdom under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz and His Highness the Crown Prince (may Allah safeguard them both), for the sake of serving the visitors of the Kingdom. He also explained the projects witnessed by Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Madinmah Al-Munawwarah, and the Sacred Sites which clearly prove the care and attention provided by the wise leadership for the guests of Allah.
His Highness revealed that the state leaves no stone unturned for the sake of facilitating the performance of the rituals, a fact which is clearly attested by the consecutive expansion projects which are being implemented in the Two Holy Mosques, the Jamarat Bridge project, Al-Masha`er Metro, and the Two Holy Mosques Train.
His Highness the Minister of Hajj said that the issuance of the decision of the Council of Ministers to form a committee headed by the Ministry of Hajj in order to devise a twenty-five year strategy for Hajj, `Umrah, and visits of the Prophet’s Mosque indicates the attention given by the rulers of this blessed country to the guests of Allah.
During his speech, His Highness touched on the achievements of the scientific team which was formed after the issuance of the Royal Decree approving the formulation of the strategy. This Royal Decree described the strategy as a huge national endeavor which requires uniting the efforts of all the authorities concerned with the provision of services for the guests of Allah. He also referred to the meetings and the workshops which have been held for the sake of serving the draft strategy.
Eng. Khalid Abu Nagi displayed a visual presentation of the achievements of the scientific team which was formed in order to devise the general strategy of the Hajj, `Umrah, and visits of the Prophet’s Mosque after the issuance of the Royal Decree to form the committee. This team had held meetings and workshops until they managed to draw up the final conception of the strategy.
Afterwards, there was an open discussion in which all the participants unanimously agreed on the importance of the strategy in planning for the works of Hajj and `Umrah, especially with the steady increase in the number of pilgrims year after year, and the need for services to keep up with this increase.
