Madinah's governor, Prince Faisal bin Salman, reaffirmed that the directions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, have always been clear and consistent on the Kingdom saving no effort in providing comfort to visiting pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia is home to Islam’s holiest city Makkah.
The governor’s remarks were given at the opening session of the 19th Madinah scientific forum, which is organized by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute of Hajj and Umrah Research at Umm Al-Qura University, in partnership with Taibah University.
Prince Faisal also said budgets had been agreed by the regional secretariat and Hajj Ministry through the “Hajj Guests” program and the Madinah Regional Development Authority, to develop historical Muslim sites to educate pilgrims on Islamic history.
He noted that according to data, 90 percent of foreign pilgrims wish to visit Madinah, saying the state was fulfilling its duty by providing comfort and safety to visitors.
Winners of the first edition of the "Spirit and Body Journey" Awards, a competition for best short films and photography covering the Hajj pilgrimage, were also applauded at the forum’s opening.
Prince Faisal thanked the institute for its efforts and cooperation, and Umm Al-Qura University for organizing the forum which alternates annually between Makkah and Madinah.
For 2019, the committee received 220 research paper submissions from academics and departments. After arbitration, 50 were chosen along with 40 working papers documenting the initiatives, accomplishments and experiences of charitable, governmental and nongovernmental authorities connected to the Hajj and Umrah.
More than 30 governmental, nongovernmental and charitable authorities took part in the forum.
