Digital prayer guide in 7 languages to serve the guests of the Two Holy Mosques
A digital initiative to enhance the spiritual journey
In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to harnessing the latest technologies to serve pilgrims, the General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques launched the “Prayer Guide” online platform. This pioneering initiative aims to enrich the spiritual experience of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques and deepen their faith journey by providing reliable religious and guidance content in seven international languages, thus removing language barriers and enhancing communication with millions of Muslims worldwide.
Development context within the Kingdom's Vision 2030
The launch of the “Prayer Guide” platform comes within a broader context aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes serving pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors. The Vision aims to enhance the quality of services provided and facilitate the performance of rituals through comprehensive digital transformation. This platform serves as a prime example of how technology can be leveraged to deliver a seamless and integrated experience, as the Kingdom has moved from providing traditional services to developing innovative, smart digital solutions that meet the contemporary needs of visitors and ensure their easy access to accurate information.
The importance of the platform and its expected impact
The Kingdom receives millions of visitors annually from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, making the provision of multilingual content essential. The platform offers its services in Arabic, English, Indonesian, Malay, French, Turkish, and Urdu, covering a wide range of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques. This initiative is expected to have a significant positive impact on several levels:
- At the local level: The platform enhances the efficiency of crowd management and the provision of religious guidance, and highlights the Kingdom's efforts in developing an advanced digital infrastructure to serve the holy sites.
- At the international level, the platform presents a civilized image of moderate Islam and ensures visitors receive reliable religious information from official sources, thus limiting the spread of misinformation. It also reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leader in the Islamic world and a pioneer in smart religious tourism.
Comprehensive content and interactive experience
The platform is a comprehensive interactive service easily accessible by scanning QR codes located throughout the Two Holy Mosques. The "Prayer Guide" includes a wide range of materials visitors need, such as the complete Holy Quran, a collection of supplications and remembrances, explanations of how to perform acts of worship, information on the virtues of good deeds, Friday sermons, and prayer times. This comprehensive content enables visitors to make the most of their time in worship and remembrance, making their journey more peaceful and spiritually enriching.
