The Institute of Hajj and Umrah Research معهد خادم الحرمين الشريفين لأبحاث الحج والعمرة 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. 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.