General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques
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| General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques | |
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| Name | General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques |
| Native name | الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي |
| Formation | 2012 (restructured) |
| Headquarters | Mecca, Medina |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | Abdulrahman Al-Sudais |
General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques oversees administration, maintenance, and religious services at the two principal Islamic sanctuaries in Mecca and Medina. It coordinates operations that affect pilgrims participating in Hajj, Umrah, and year-round visitation, and interacts with Saudi institutions such as the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Royal Court of Saudi Arabia, and Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia). The body works alongside international organizations and religious authorities including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Al-Azhar University, and various national Hajj missions.
History
The administration of the Masjid al-Haram and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi has roots in premodern custodianship by regional rulers of the Hejaz, including the Sharifate of Mecca and the Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz. After the Saudi conquest of Hejaz (1924–25), control passed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and evolved through institutions such as the Ministry of Awqaf and later the current presidency. Major reorganizations occurred under the reigns of King Saud, King Faisal, and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, culminating in statutory restructuring during the tenure of King Salman and reforms associated with Vision 2030. Leadership appointments often involve figures connected to Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque scholarship, notable clerics from Umm al-Qura University, and officials with ties to the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
The presidency is headed by a president and supported by vice presidents, executive directors, and specialized departments coordinating engineering, maintenance, religious affairs, and media. Prominent leaders have included clerics linked to Grand Mosque Seizure (1979) aftermath policies and administrators who coordinated with Gulf Cooperation Council states and national Hajj missions such as those from Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey. Advisory bodies interact with institutions like King Abdulaziz University, Islamic Development Bank, World Health Organization, and diplomatic missions from countries participating in Hajj operations. Organizational units liaise with municipal authorities of Mecca Region and Medina Province and with international logistics partners including Saudi Arabian Airlines and major construction firms previously engaged in projects alongside Binladin Group and Saudi Binladin Group contractors.
Roles and Responsibilities
The presidency manages ritual sites including the Kaaba, Maqam Ibrahim, and the Rawdah; oversees crowd management during Hajj rituals and seasonal operations such as Tawaf and Sa'i; and administers religious guidance, maintenance, expansion, and technological modernization. It issues directives affecting pilgrims from countries represented by national Hajj authorities such as Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Iran (until diplomatic strains); coordinates with World Health Organization and Ministry of Health (Saudi Arabia) on public health measures; and implements heritage preservation efforts alongside bodies like UNESCO and regional antiquities departments. The presidency also publishes religious rulings in consultation with the Council of Senior Scholars and manages media outreach through entities akin to Saudi Press Agency.
Major Projects and Initiatives
Major infrastructure and expansion projects have included the Masjid al-Haram expansions, circulation and transportation works connecting to the Makkah Metro, pedestrianization schemes near the Jamarat Bridge for the Stoning of the Devil, and enhancements to visitor facilities in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi including the Green Dome precinct. Technological initiatives encompass crowd monitoring systems, electronic gates, and coordination with telecom operators like Saudi Telecom Company to support pilgrims. Collaborations with construction and engineering firms have paralleled national programs such as King Abdullah Economic City developments and urban plans in the Makkah Region Development Authority and have prompted cooperation with global firms experienced in large-scale religious site projects. Public health and safety campaigns during pandemics and seasonal outbreaks were coordinated with World Health Organization directives and regional ministries.
International and Interfaith Relations
The presidency’s international engagements include coordination with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and bilateral relations with countries sending pilgrims such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, Malaysia, and Turkey. It has received visits from foreign dignitaries and religious delegations from institutions like Al-Azhar University, Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah, and representatives of Sunni and Shia organizations during diplomatic exchanges. While the primary mandate is custodial and religious, interactions have extended to humanitarian organizations such as International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement during mass gathering responses and to multilateral health bodies including the World Health Organization for epidemic preparedness.
Controversies and Criticism
The presidency has been involved in controversies concerning large-scale construction impacts on heritage sites, drawing criticism from preservationists linked to UNESCO and historians of the Hijaz; disputes over contracts with major contractors like Saudi Binladin Group; and debates over crowd-management decisions during fatal stampedes at Hajj events, which implicated coordination with the Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia) and emergency responders. Human-rights groups and some international media have raised concerns about labor practices in construction projects and transparency in procurement. Religious debates have sometimes involved clerical rulings associated with figures from the Council of Senior Scholars and responses to sectarian sensitivities involving delegations from Iran and other states.
Category:Islamic organizations Category:Organizations based in Saudi Arabia