Technology utilised in crowd management, locating missing persons in Grand Mosque
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The faithful congregating the courtyard around the Holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque on the second Friday of Ramadan.
The faithful congregating the courtyard around the Holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque on the second Friday of Ramadan.
Cairo: Saudi authorities harness advanced technologies including artificial intelligence to manage an influx of worshippers into the city of Mecca, home to Islam's holiest mosque, during the current Muslim month of Ramadan.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) supports other government agencies in providing advanced digital services to pilgrims during Ramadan when they flock in large numbers to Mecca to perform the Umrah or minor pilgrimage in the Grand Mosque.
Also Read: Ramadan 2025: Haramain rail handles 3,400 trips, cuts Mecca–Medina travel to 2 hours
To support crowd management in the mosque, SDAIA, in cooperation with the Interior Ministry, has launched the "Basir" platform that relies on a computer system using artificial intelligence to monitor and analyze visitor movement inside the sprawling place.
Ramadan Prayer Timetable 2025
This approach includes crowd tracking, detecting movement in the opposite direction that disrupts smooth traffic of pilgrims, and helping in locating missing persons.
Moreover, SDAIA is working to ascertain the readiness of the technical infrastructure at the kingdom's different border crossings to facilitate the entry of pilgrims.
These efforts include deploying technical teams working around the clock with relevant Umrah authorities at all ports.
Millions of Muslims from all over the world flock to Saudi Arabia, Islam's birthplace, to undertake the Umrah and pray in the Grand Mosque in Mecca that is known as the "Holy Capital".
The month of Ramadan, noted for devout worshipping, traditionally marks the peak of the Umrah season.
In the run-up to the sacred month, Saudi authorities have mobilized all resources to receive the influx of pilgrims and enable them to perform the rites with ease and comfort.
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