المملكة: 6 strategic partnerships and 13 scientific papers to develop endowment work to serve the guests of God

Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, the Chamber Makkah al-Mukarramah The Meccan Endowments Center and the accompanying scientific symposium “The Meccan Endowments in Serving the Guests of the Most Merciful,” with the participation of an elite group of Excellencies, officials and those interested in the endowment sector.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Meccan Endowments Center, Dr. Osama bin Fadl al-Bar, explained that the center comes as an extension of the historical position that Mecca occupied in the path of the Islamic endowment, stressing that its mission is to highlight The Meccan endowment legacy, and transforming it into institutional knowledge that contributes to spreading the endowment culture, supporting studies and research, strengthening partnerships, and encouraging quality endowments.

The Governor of the General Authority of Endowments, Mr. Imad bin Saleh Al-Kharashi, confirmed that the The Meccan Endowments represents a platform that brings together donors, experts, and development agencies to maximize the endowment’s sustainable impact.
He added that the endowment sector has witnessed qualitative shifts in recent years through the development of systems and governance and raising the efficiency of endowment investment, stressing that the Authority is adopting a strategy to enable regions to develop their endowments, and to support specialized endowment centers and arms as partners in enhancing endowment awareness and achieving development goals.

Review of the endowment legacy of Mecca. The Holy Mosque

The scientific symposium began with the first session, which bore the title “Meccan Endowments and Service Guests of the Most Gracious.. a glorious history,” and it was moderated by Professor Dr. Adnan bin Abbas Adas, Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning at King Abdulaziz University, where five scientific papers were discussed that shed light on the development of Meccan endowments throughout history.

In his paper “Water Endowments and Watering Pilgrims (From the Abbasid Era to the Saudi Era),” Professor Dr. Omar bin Siraj Abu Raziza reviewed the cultural role of water endowments, based on the Ain project. Zubaida is a pioneering model for the sustainability of providing water to the guests of God.

In his paper, “Hospitality and Accommodation for Those Going to Mecca,” Professor Dr. Hussein bin Abdulaziz Shafi’i discussed the history of the endowment ties that were designated to receive pilgrims, documenting the spread of 46 endowment ties to serve the guests of God, and what they contributed to consolidating the values of social solidarity.

And in his paper “Al-Rifada and honoring the guest from Qusay bin Kilab to the Al-Rafada Committee,” Dr. Abdullah bin Awaid Al-Otaibi reviewed the development of the Al-Rafada system since its establishment as a social system to serve pilgrims, all the way to its transformation into a sustainable endowment system.

Developing Hajj routes and services

Dr. Abdullah Sidi Al-Tariqi also presented a paper entitled “Endowments in Hajj Routes,” which dealt with the endowments’ contribution to developing Hajj routes by providing water, Shelter, security, guidance, and feeding, in addition to presenting future initiatives based on artificial intelligence technologies.

Professor Dr. Adnan bin Muhammad Al-Harithi concluded the session’s work with the paper “Waqf Irrigation Facilities in Makkah Al-Mukarramah,” reviewing the development of endowment wells, springs, watering holes, and fountains, and their role in securing water for the residents of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the guests of God.

Serving the Guests of God

The symposium moved to the second session. Titled “Meccan Endowments and Serving the Guests of God… Contemporary Models,” which was moderated by Dr. Fouad bin Sadaqa Merdad, Advisor to the Governor of the General Authority of Endowments and General Supervisor of Community Participation, it reviewed four pioneering national experiences that embodied the role of the Endowment in developing services provided to pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims, and highlighted the impact of institutional partnerships in achieving sustainability and maximizing development impact.

The session was opened by Dr. Salem bin Ali Al Khazem with a scientific paper entitled “The Experience of the Prince Miteb Bin Foundation.” Abdulaziz Al Saud National Park in watering the guests of the Most Merciful,” during which he reviewed the progress of the “Mabarat Mina” project since its establishment, noting that it provided more than 24 million liters of chilled water during the Hajj season through a transportation network extending more than 170 thousand meters, in addition to the Foundation’s participation in the Zamzam System development portfolio worth 100 million riyals.

In the second paper, Professor Nayef bin Abdul Mohsen Al Rajhi presented the experience of Al Rajhi Charitable Services Company. Domestic pilgrims, explaining its role in enabling unable citizens and new Muslims to perform the Hajj, pointing to the company’s success in enabling more than 40,000 new Muslims to perform the rituals.

Dr. Afaf Muhammad Al-Jalal reviewed a paper entitled “The Experience of the Abdul Rahman Abdul Qadir Faqih National Foundation in Serving the Guests of God,” in which she discussed the system of environmental and humanitarian projects implemented by the Foundation, which included watering, climate mitigation, and afforestation. And irrigation, which contributed to improving the environment surrounding pilgrims, reducing cases of heat stress by 74.6%, and reducing resulting deaths by 47.6%.

Mr. Ammar Saleh Al-Wahaibi concluded the session with a paper entitled “The Integration and Empowerment Model for the Nusk Humanitarian Foundation to Serve the Guests of God.” He explained that the most prominent challenges are the dispersion of efforts, while the opportunity lies in moving from separate initiatives to an integrated institutional system. He also reviewed the sector indicators, which include more than 800 Organization, 5,000 services, 75,000 volunteers, monitoring more than 400 needs, 100 opportunities, and 111 initiatives.

Strengthening the endowment system and shaping the future

The ceremony witnessed the signing of 6 strategic partnership agreements between the Meccan Endowments Center and the General Authority of Endowments, Princess Seeta bint Abdulaziz Endowments, Al Subaie National Foundation, Al Dhuwayan National Foundation, and Umm University Endowments. Villages, and the Scientific Endowment at King Abdulaziz University, with the aim of enhancing institutional integration and supporting studies and research.

The symposium concluded its work with the main session entitled “Waqf Innovation in Serving the Guests of God,” and was moderated by His Excellency Sheikh Saad bin Nasser Al-Shathri, Advisor at the Royal Court and member of the Council of Senior Scholars, where four scientific papers were discussed.

His Excellency Professor Musaed bin Abdulaziz Al-Daoud, Secretary of the Holy Capital, reviewed a paper entitled “Community Initiatives of the Secretariat of the Holy Capital and their Role in Humanization,” in which he addressed the role of community initiatives in improving the quality of life in Mecca and improving the experience of the guests of God, by enhancing integration between the endowment sector and the non-profit sector, and highlighting specific initiatives such as “And Purify My Home,” community centers, and field volunteer services.

In the second paper, Mr. Saad Al-Wabel, CEO of the Programs Sector, reviewed a paper entitled “Non-Profit Projects…The Sacrifice Project as a Model.” He addressed During which he experienced the Kingdom’s project to benefit from sacrifices and sacrifices as one of the most prominent institutional models in serving the guests of the Most Gracious.

Engineer Ghazi Dhafer Al-Shehri also presented a paper entitled “The Role of Specialized Endowments in Serving the Guests of the Most Merciful,” in which he addressed the concept of specialized endowments and their importance in keeping pace with renewable development needs, proposing the establishment of specific endowments that respond to specific needs and contribute to maximizing the endowment’s impact.

Prof. Dr. concluded. Abdul Razzaq Muhammad Nour Sultan presented the symposium with a paper entitled “The Use of Moving Conveyors and Their Role in Facilitating the Movement of Pilgrims in the Holy Sites,” during which he reviewed the proposal to create pedestrian paths based on modern mechanical conveyors within air-conditioned and closed corridors.

Honoring the participating and supporting entities

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Chamber and the Mecca Endowment Center honored the participating and supporting entities and speakers in appreciation of their scientific contributions and support for the success of the work. The symposium, and the research papers and qualitative experiences they presented, enriched the discussion and contributed to enhancing endowment knowledge.

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