Saudi Arabia leaned heavily on artificial intelligence and smart digital infrastructure during the 1447 AH Hajj, deploying systems designed to manage crowds, speed up emergency response, and guide pilgrims from departure in their home countries to their return. The effort was led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), which operated a range of AI platforms across the pilgrimage.
According to SDAIA, the aim was to keep the technology invisible to worshippers. "Our goal is to ensure that AI operates quietly in the background while making the pilgrim journey safer, smoother and more efficient at every stage," SDAIA spokesperson Majed al-Shehry told Al Arabiya English.
Watching the Crowds in Real Time
The densest moments of Hajj occur around the Grand Mosque and at Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. To manage them, platforms named Baseer and Sawaher, developed with the Ministry of Interior, used computer vision, thermal imaging, and AI analytics to track crowd density and movement as it happened.
These systems analyse live video and surveillance feeds to flag congestion points and predict crowd surges before they become dangerous. That early warning lets authorities redirect flows and act faster, a critical capability at an event where millions move through narrow corridors within hours of each other.
Saudi authorities also deployed a multilingual AI-powered robot offering religious guidance and instant translation. The robot provides information on services inside the two holy mosques and answers religious questions, helping pilgrims from different nationalities communicate more easily.
Digital Services From Home to the Holy Sites
Much of the technology starts before pilgrims land. More than 1.5 million travellers benefited from the Makkah Route Initiative, which completes immigration and entry steps in the home country. The programme uses biometric enrolment and intelligent data processing and operates across 17 airports in 10 countries.
Once in the Kingdom, the Tawakkalna and Nusuk applications carried much of the load, offering more than 1,300 digital services. These include digital Hajj permits, navigation tools, weather updates, emergency assistance, ambulance requests, and Qibla direction. The Nusuk Card adds digital identification, storing medical records and emergency contact details so responders can act quickly if a pilgrim falls ill.
What It Means for Future Seasons
Saudi officials frame the rollout as part of a longer transformation rather than a one-off. SDAIA said the integration of AI into Hajj operations reflects the Kingdom's wider push to position itself as a leader in digital governance while improving pilgrim safety. Smart surveillance, predictive analytics, digital identity, and robotics are expected to expand in future seasons as investment in smart-city infrastructure in Makkah and Madinah continues.
For pilgrims, the practical takeaway is to engage with these tools early. Install Nusuk and Tawakkalna before travelling and complete registration well ahead of departure. Keep the Nusuk Card accessible, as it carries the medical and identity data emergency teams rely on. Use the in-app navigation and permit features rather than paper alternatives, since many services at the holy sites now run through these platforms. Pilgrims should also confirm whether their departure airport participates in the Makkah Route Initiative, which can save hours on arrival.