Advanced technologies to monitor the density of Tawaf and Sa'i during Ramadan
The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques announced a series of significant upgrades aimed at improving the system for monitoring the flow of worshippers performing Tawaf and Sa'i, as well as visitor routes, as part of its extensive preparations for the holy month of Ramadan. This step comes within the framework of the "Quick Wins" initiative to ensure smooth movement and provide the utmost comfort and peace of mind for worshippers and pilgrims.
A historic shift in crowd management
Managing the millions of pilgrims at the Two Holy Mosques is not a recent development, but rather the culmination of decades of continuous improvement. Since the early stages of Saudi expansion, the Kingdom has been at the forefront of developing innovative engineering and organizational solutions to accommodate the ever-increasing numbers of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Today, this system is transitioning from traditional management methods reliant on direct human oversight to the era of digital transformation and artificial intelligence, where technology is harnessed to serve religious rites, reflecting the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to developing the digital infrastructure at the holiest of places.
Smart mechanisms for monitoring the density of Tawaf and Sa'i
The new technologies focus directly on monitoring and tracking the density of worshippers performing Tawaf and Sa'i with extreme precision. The newly developed mechanism relies on updating density data every 30 minutes in the Grand Mosque. This service aims to enable pilgrims to make informed decisions by choosing less crowded times and routes, thus contributing to a more balanced distribution of people across all levels.
The authority has supported the field with 10 huge electronic screens distributed at the entrances of the main squares, displaying the density status instantly using an illustrative color system (light, medium, high), in addition to providing quick response (QR Code) codes that allow the pilgrim to follow the instantaneous status via his smartphone, which facilitates smooth access to the Mataf and Sa’i areas.
Strategic dimensions and global impact
The importance of these technologies extends beyond local operations, establishing a leading global model for managing massive crowds in specific geographic areas. This development aligns with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to increase capacity to accommodate 30 million Umrah pilgrims annually, while ensuring a seamless and safe spiritual experience. This approach reinforces the Kingdom's position as a beacon of civilization, blending religious tradition with technological advancement to serve Muslims worldwide.
Developing services in the Prophet's Mosque
In a related development, the modernization of the Prophet's Mosque included increasing the speed of real-time data flow and adding live visitor routes, along with highly accurate display of prayer times. This integrated system contributes to better guiding visitors and staff on the ground towards less crowded areas, thus maximizing the use of all facilities in the Two Holy Mosques and contributing to the success of the Ramadan season.
