Simultaneous translation enhances on-site guidance at the Grand Mosque
Comprehensive development of guidance services in the Grand Mosque of Mecca
In a significant step aimed at enriching the experience of pilgrims and facilitating their spiritual journey, the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques announced the enhancement of its "Field Guidance" system at the Grand Mosque in Mecca with a package of advanced improvements. These efforts are designed to accommodate the millions of visitors the Grand Mosque receives during peak seasons, particularly the holy month of Ramadan, with the deployment of 360 qualified field guides to provide direct support and guidance to visitors and pilgrims.
This integrated system is distributed across 60 carefully selected guidance points to cover all areas of the Grand Mosque and its outer courtyards. A key addition is the provision of multilingual simultaneous translation services to the "foot teams," ensuring that all visitors, regardless of their nationality or language, receive the necessary directions and guidance. This has resulted in a significant increase of approximately 30% in the number of people benefiting from these services.
Historical context and the importance of linguistic communication in the Two Holy Mosques
Throughout history, the Grand Mosque has been a destination for Muslims from all over the world, making it a meeting point for cultures and languages. Serving pilgrims and facilitating their rituals has been a top priority for the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With the steadily increasing number of visitors, overcoming the language barrier has emerged as one of the most significant challenges to ensure a smooth and safe spiritual experience.
This initiative is part of achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to increase the capacity to receive pilgrims and improve the quality of services provided to them. Providing simultaneous interpretation is not merely a technological service; it is a bridge of human connection that reflects the values of generosity and hospitality, and helps pilgrims focus on their worship without worrying about movement or accessing essential facilities within the Grand Mosque.
Expected impact of the initiative at the local and international levels
This development is expected to have a wide-ranging positive impact. Locally, the initiative enhances crowd management efficiency and ensures smooth traffic flow, reducing congestion and contributing to everyone's safety. Internationally, these services solidify the Kingdom's image as a leader in harnessing technology to serve the Two Holy Mosques, setting a global standard for managing large, multicultural gatherings.
The efforts of field guides are integrated with a smart guidance system that utilizes digital signs, color coding, and identification numbers to effectively direct pilgrims to entrances, prayer areas, and essential facilities. The General Authority affirmed its commitment to continuously developing its guidance system and expanding its translation services to include more languages, thereby enhancing the visitor experience and achieving the highest standards of service excellence.
