Saudi forum reveals smart technologies used to enhance pilgrims’ Hajj experience

The Kingdom has been utilizing and advancing intelligent technologies to enhance the services provided to Hajj pilgrims, and these advancements were highlighted at a forum in the holy city of Makkah.

At the King Abdul Aziz Historical Hall of Umm Al-Qura University, the "Advanced Technology Utilization on Hajj - Smart Hajj" gathering was inaugurated on Sunday by Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif, the Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia.

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One of the subjects discussed at the meeting was the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and how they can be applied to enhance the Hajj experience for worshippers in various fields, including health, security, entertainment, traffic, and others.

The forum was graced by the presence of the minister, who was accompanied by several dignitaries, including the head of the Presidency of State Security, Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Al-Howairini, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Benten, and the president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais.

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Additionally, Prince Abdul Aziz visited an exhibition held during the event.

The Ministry of Interior's general medical services department organized the forum with participation from other ministries and organizations, such as the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and Umm Al-Qura University.

Benten mentioned in his speech that despite the arrival of 1.2 million Hajj pilgrims in Makkah, the daily lives of the 1.6 million residents in the city were unaffected and ran smoothly.

Makkah currently hosts more than 1.5 million pilgrims, with around 300,000 in Madinah. Despite this, the city remains orderly, and residents are unaware of the influx of visitors.

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Benten said that the Saudi government's efforts are making it easy and comfortable for pilgrims to perform their rituals.

The minister mentioned that the issuance of Hajj visas was done electronically, so most pilgrims did not have to go to the Saudi Embassy.

He claimed that his ministry possessed information on 60 million Muslims who had previously undertaken the Hajj. By knowing their desired places to visit and preferences, we utilize this information to provide better assistance. The good data infrastructure we have now will enable us to introduce even better services for pilgrims in the future.

Pilgrims praised the Hajj experience. Benten discussed the latest technologies and reported 86% visitor satisfaction from last year.

Tracking devices on pilgrim buses monitor driver and transport time. We detect technical issues when a bus stops.

The technology monitors accommodation units. Information on meal providers for pilgrims, including staff details, is available.

Plans to recycle waste and enhance archeological sites in Makkah and Madinah for a better Hajj experience were highlighted by Benten.  

Tahani Al-Subait, an assistant professor of AI at Umm Al-Qura University, informed Arab News that new smart apps for pilgrims were being developed using the gathered data.

Applications can be developed in various fields, such as health, security, entertainment, traffic, and people's movement. The usage of AI is possible in every imaginable thing. "It's hard to think of a field where AI wouldn't be useful," she commented.

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The Ministry of Health used a robot to remotely provide medical consultations and checks during this year's Hajj season.

In the holy sites, a robot can be used by a physician in Riyadh to provide medical assistance. The doctor is able to supervise the robot and utilize it to take the patient's temperature and measure their pulse with a stethoscope. According to Al-Subait, the doctor can command the robot to locate and examine a specific patient in a specific hospital ward.