The Emir tasked the Umm Al-Qura University, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, to conduct the study with regard to this evaluation after monitoring and recording field observations.

Dr. Adnan Al-Shahrani, dean of the institute, said that the research team is working on measuring the travel times of about 650 buses on the four lanes to and from the Grand Mosque during the operating period in the holy month of Ramadan. This is through taking readings of the bus travel time from the stop to the end of the track, as well as the ratio of the number of passengers to the operational capacity of each bus, and the time taken from the first passenger boarding until the bus moves.

Al-Shahrani noted that the research team is also working on measuring the time it takes from the first bus to move and the next bus to stop in the picking area, as well as on monitoring the ratio of buses in the station to its operational capacity, the presence of drivers and operation supervisors at the station, and the availability of utility services at the station.

Al-Shahrani said that the results of the data, collected from a scientific perspective, will be submitted to the relevant authorities in its bid to further improve the transport services being extended to the guests of God. He stressed the importance of the institute’s role in studying the needs of the pilgrims, and ensuring the quality of services provided to them during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.