Saudi Arabia is expanding artificial intelligence and smart digital infrastructure to transform the Hajj pilgrimage, improving crowd management, safety, and operational efficiency from departure to post-Hajj.

This AI-enabled approach positions the kingdom as a global model for managing mass gatherings, balancing safety, dignity, and efficiency while preserving religious rites.

The initiative is led by SDAIA, which operates integrated AI-powered platforms and digital services to monitor and manage pilgrims in real time.

Security plans draw on lessons from previous seasons, emphasizing readiness, coordination, and the use of advanced command centers and real-time data to speed decision-making and responses.

Digital services such as the Mecca Route Initiative, Tawakkalna, and Nusuk provide biometric verification, digital permits, navigation, weather updates, emergency assistance, and digital identification through the Nusuk Card with medical and contact information.

Together, Nusuk and Tawakkalna offer more than 1,300 digital services for pilgrims, covering travel Permits, navigation, emergency support, and identification.

The Baseer platform enables real-time crowd monitoring, congestion prediction, and rapid location of lost individuals to aid safety and reunification.

Connectivity upgrades, including 5G and Wi-Fi across Haram zones, enable real-time access to apps, safety alerts, navigation, and emergency services for pilgrims.

The Smart Makkah Operations Center acts as the central command hub, aggregating data from multiple platforms to monitor crowds, weather, entries, and emergencies for rapid decision-making.

The deployment includes AI-powered crowd analysis, drones, facial recognition, thermal imaging, and high-resolution surveillance as part of a broader security network to monitor congestion and prevent unauthorized access to holy sites.

Multi-service AI-powered robots provide multilingual religious guidance and real-time translation, enhancing communication for visitors from diverse backgrounds.

The Mecca Route Initiative has processed over 1.5 million pilgrims and operates across 17 airports in 10 countries, enabling pre-arrival entry procedures and biometric enrollment.