Advanced guidance system in the Two Holy Mosques to receive millions of Umrah pilgrims during Ramadan

Intensive preparations for the holy month of Ramadan

As part of its early and intensive preparations to receive millions of visitors and pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH, the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques announced the launch of its integrated and upgraded guidance system. This unique initiative aims to guide pilgrims and facilitate their movement within the Two Holy Mosques and their surrounding courtyards, ensuring a richer spiritual experience and enabling them to perform their rituals and access all services with ease.

Historical background and ongoing efforts

Since its founding, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has given the utmost priority to serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors. These modern efforts are a continuation of a long history of care and ongoing development of the holy sites. With the increasing number of pilgrims and visitors annually, especially during peak seasons such as Ramadan and Hajj, the need has arisen to adopt innovative solutions for crowd management and to ensure their safety and comfort. This step aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of services provided to pilgrims, increase capacity to accommodate larger numbers of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, and offer them a unique spiritual experience.

Details of the new guidance system

The new system includes a package of initiatives that combine field guidance with modern technologies. Its key components include:

• Field teams: Launching the “foot teams” service for spatial guidance, where specialized teams roam around the Two Holy Mosques to provide direct and accurate guidance to visitors, with special attention given to the elderly and people with disabilities.
• Multilingual guides: A comprehensive guidebook has been published and translated into eight living world languages, breaking down the language barrier and making it easier for visitors of different nationalities to understand the maps and instructions.
• Interactive technologies: The guide relies on the global “color coding” system to facilitate reference, and includes paper maps and other smart interactive maps supported by a quick response code (QR Code), which show all areas of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque and the locations of vital services.

Strengthening the guidance infrastructure

To support this system, the Authority is significantly enhancing the infrastructure. This includes supplying and installing 60 modern directional stands, 40 in the Grand Mosque and 20 in the Prophet's Mosque. In addition, 350 new directional signs will be supplied, bringing the total number of carefully distributed signs throughout the Two Holy Mosques and their courtyards to 2,731, creating a comprehensive and clear directional network.

Importance and expected impact

The importance of this system extends beyond simply facilitating movement; it represents a qualitative leap in the experience of pilgrims. Locally, it will contribute to a smoother flow of crowds and reduce congestion, thus enhancing safety and comfort. Internationally, these efforts reflect the Kingdom's commitment to harnessing the latest technologies and best global practices to serve Muslims from all corners of the earth, solidifying its position as a leading spiritual destination offering world-class services befitting the sanctity of the place and the status of its visitors.