Saudi Arabia has introduced a new digital crowd-monitoring service at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to facilitate pilgrims and worshippers to perform Tawaf and Sa’i more easily and efficiently.
The mission is part of a big effort by the Kingdom to use smart technology in crowd management as it aims to ensure the safety and comfort of millions of people to the Two Holy Mosques while their pilgrimage.
To avail the service, visitors only need to scan a QR code to receive live updates on crowd density at two important places: the Mataf, where pilgrims perform Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba, and the Masa’a, the corridor for Sa’i between Safa and Marwah.
The platform not only provides information on crowd levels, but also smart guidance and navigation assistance to help the flow of pilgrims through the mosque complex.
With real time picture into crowd conditions, visitors can plan their activities and head to less packed areas, making their rituals appreciably more manageable.
The system is engineered to alleviate congestion, ensure a seamless flow and improve safety – particularly during peak seasons, when Makkah is filled with millions of worshippers arriving simultaneously.
Saudi officials said the initiative is part of the Kingdom’s continuous investment in digital transformation to lift services at the Two Holy Mosques to the highest levels using advanced technology.
The new platform brings together real-time data with smart crowd-management tools to offer a safer, more organised and smoother pilgrimage, assisting worshippers to perform their religious duties with greater ease and peace of mind.
