Saudi Arabia has introduced a new artificial intelligence platform to strengthen security and crowd management at the holy sites during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), working with the General Directorate of Public Security at the Ministry of Interior, developed the system, known as the smart Roya platform. The Saudi Press Agency reported the launch at the end of the 2026 Hajj season.
The platform combines artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems to support operational decisions across Makkah, Madinah, and the surrounding holy sites. According to KACST, the goal is to improve response speed and help authorities act quickly when crowds gather in dense areas.
How the Platform Works
Roya analyzes satellite imagery and geospatial data to study pilgrim movement and monitor crowd density in real time. It generates field indicators that help security teams manage critical locations more efficiently. According to KACST, the platform also studies thermal zones and land surface temperature changes in Makkah and the holy sites, detects irregular patterns, and produces spatial reports for field operations.
The system draws on a large archive of imagery. KACST said it includes nearly 2,000 satellite images from current and previous seasons, alongside 126 aerial imaging operations covering Makkah, Madinah, the holy sites, and the connecting roads. It also offers urban heat island monitoring, giving authorities a fuller picture of environmental and climate conditions during peak periods.
Automation and Real-Time Response
One of the platform's central features is full automation. KACST said all operations, from importing data to processing it and displaying results, run automatically. This speeds up analysis and reduces the time between detecting an issue and responding to it.
The platform is linked to the Public Security Command and Control Center network. It features an interactive interface for real-time data visualization, which supports operations in high-density zones such as the Grand Mosque courtyards, the Jamarat area, and the camps of Mina. KACST operates the system directly.
Part of a Wider Technology Push
The Roya platform reflects a broader effort by Saudi authorities to manage growing pilgrim numbers through technology rather than physical expansion alone. In 2026, more than 1.7 million pilgrims performed Hajj, and the Kingdom continues to expand capacity under Vision 2030. Tools that track crowd flow and heat stress are increasingly central to keeping pilgrims safe.
Heat remains one of the most serious risks pilgrims face, as Hajj currently falls in the Saudi summer. Systems that map temperature variations across the holy sites can help authorities direct cooling resources and medical teams to the areas that need them most.
Practical Notes for Pilgrims
For pilgrims, the platform works in the background, but its benefits are practical. Faster crowd detection can reduce dangerous bottlenecks at the Jamarat Bridge and the Mataf. Pilgrims can support these efforts by following the movement schedules issued through the official Nusuk application and by obeying the guidance of security personnel on the ground.
Pilgrims should also plan their rituals during less crowded windows where their group permits allow it, stay hydrated, and use the shaded and cooled routes provided at the holy sites. Technology improves oversight, but pilgrim cooperation remains essential to a safe and orderly Hajj.