المملكة: Specialists for"today": Artificial intelligence and smart technologies make a difference in Hajj

Hajj season 1447 AH, which specialists described as an advanced global model in crowd management and providing services to Guests of God.

Specialists confirmed to Al-Youm that this year’s Hajj season embodied the fruit of the large investments made by the Kingdom in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence applications, and big data analysis, in addition to the integration between security, service, and health authorities, which was reflected in the flow of pilgrims’ movement, raising the quality of services, and enhancing levels of safety and security in the holy sites.

Social Responsibility

Firstly, the specialist explained In social responsibility and improving the experience of the guests of God, Ayman Banah said that the Hajj of 1447 AH (2026 AD) represents the peak of the digital and organizational transformation that made the slogan “No Hajj without a permit” a tangible reality that contributed to raising the quality of services and preserving the safety of the guests of God.

He pointed out that the security and service system succeeded in transforming this slogan into a field reality through a set of basic pillars, foremost of which is the “Nusk” smart card, which has become compulsory to carry in both its printed and digital forms, allowing the identification of regular pilgrims and facilitating their movement between the holy sites. Unified government platforms, while the security control centers spread at the entrances to Mecca and the Holy Sites supported their work with artificial intelligence techniques, which enhanced the efficiency of follow-up and field oversight.

He indicated that this system enabled the concerned authorities to direct logistical and service resources, including housing, subsistence, and transportation, according to the numbers of authorized pilgrims with high accuracy, which was directly reflected in the quality of services provided and the improvement of the pilgrims’ experience throughout their journey of faith.

Support Ongoing

On the other hand, crowd management specialist Dr. Wael Al-Halabi, said that the Kingdom is witnessing rapid development in the technical sector with continuous support from the wise leadership to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, noting that the Council of Ministers’ decision to designate the year 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence reflects the strategic position that these technologies have now occupied in various sectors.

He explained that the Hajj season this year witnessed great interest from companies providing Hajj services in employing artificial intelligence systems to monitor the services provided to pilgrims with the aim of ensuring quality and improving the level of service. And follow up on the quality of services immediately.

He added that the systems used in the Holy Sites benefit from the advanced technical infrastructure provided by the Kingdom, with the development of new solutions annually that are compatible with the needs of hospitality service providers, ensuring the provision of high-quality services and achieving an exceptional faith experience for pilgrims.

Strategic Enablers

While the cybersecurity specialist Eng. Muhammad Qutb said that artificial intelligence has become one of the most important strategic capabilities for developing the Hajj and Umrah system in the Kingdom, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of services and improve the experience of the guests of God from the moment of their arrival until their departure.

He explained that these technologies have contributed to reformulating the concept of traditional hospitality and transforming it into an integrated smart experience based on data analysis, forecasting needs, and speed of response, in order to achieve higher levels of operational efficiency and satisfaction among pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims.

Digital assistants

Qutb pointed out that the applications of artificial intelligence in the Hajj and Umrah sector have become numerous and diverse, starting with crowd management and analyzing movement patterns within the holy sites, through reducing congestion and raising safety levels, all the way to developing… Multilingual digital assistants that provide immediate guidance, answer questions, and direct pilgrims to appropriate services easily and conveniently.

He added that hospitality and catering companies have also benefited from artificial intelligence techniques in analyzing beneficiaries’ preferences, predicting operational needs, and managing resources more efficiently, including housing, transportation, catering, and reception services.

Smart systems

Qutb explained that the accelerating digital transformation requires at the same time strengthening aspects of cybersecurity, especially with dealing with sensitive data for millions of pilgrims. And pilgrims, stressing the importance of building secure smart systems that guarantee data protection, continuity of services, and confront potential digital threats.

He pointed out that the future will witness more personalized and proactive services and the ability to respond immediately, driven by smart algorithms that contribute to creating an advanced human experience worthy of the guests of God, stressing that investing in artificial intelligence has become a strategic necessity for every entity working in the Hajj and Umrah system and seeking to achieve excellence and leadership.

Moshref Model

In turn, the researcher in artificial intelligence, Dr. Radhi Al-Zwaid: The success of this year’s Hajj season is an honorable example of the great efforts made by the Kingdom in serving the guests of God, stressing that technology and artificial intelligence have played a pivotal role in developing the Hajj system and raising the efficiency of services provided to pilgrims.

He explained that the season witnessed high levels of integration between the security, health, service and volunteer agencies, which contributed to enabling pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and reassurance, noting that the smart systems used reflected the extent of the development that the Kingdom has reached in crowd management and service provision.

He added that applications of artificial intelligence and data analysis contributed to improving the movement of pilgrims, predicting human densities, accelerating the response to emergency situations, as well as facilitating communication processes. And guidance in several languages, while national cadres, volunteers, and scouts played a prominent role in guiding pilgrims and supporting them around the clock.

Best Services

Al-Zwaid stressed that this success embodies the continuous support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God protect them -, and their constant keenness to develop the Hajj system year after year and provide the best services to guests. Al-Rahman.

He pointed out that the success of the Hajj season does not only represent an organizational achievement, but rather sends a global message confirming the Kingdom’s position and leadership in serving Islam and Muslims, and reflects its ability to employ the latest technologies and innovations to serve millions of pilgrims in the largest annual human gathering in the world, establishing a unique model that combines advanced technology and human values in serving the guests of the Holy House of God.

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