Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has proposed the establishment of a Haj and Umrah university to boost the government’s efforts to extend better services to pilgrims.

“We hope that the Higher Education Ministry would take up this proposal seriously and conduct studies to make it a reality,” he told reporters after inspecting Haj facilities and projects in Mina and Muzdalifah on Monday.

Prince Khaled emphasized the importance of such a university, as millions of Muslims from different parts of the world come for Haj and Umrah all year round.

He hoped that the Haj Research Institute at Umm Al-Qura University and the Haram Institute would serve as a nucleus for the proposed university, which would focus on research and training.

Saudi officials and academics have welcomed the governor’s proposal, saying it would play a big role in improving Haj and Umrah services.

Mohammed Badahdah, assistant secretary-general of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, said a team of experts should be formed under the new university to develop an advanced curriculum for Haj courses.

“This curriculum, approved by prominent scholars around the world, can be distributed through Saudi cultural attaches,” he told Arab News. He said WAMY has been conducting such Haj courses in African countries. Badahdah said that the new university should train teachers to conduct such courses in different countries.