Saudi Arabia unveils largest Hajj 2025 plan using artificial intelligence
Over 2,000 trained staff deployed to support millions of pilgrims
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has unveiled its most comprehensive Hajj operational strategy yet for the 1446 AH season (2025), aiming to enhance the experience of millions of Muslims set to gather for the annual pilgrimage.
The plan, spearheaded by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, introduces cutting-edge technology and an array of strategic measures to ensure a spiritually enriching and secure journey for pilgrims.
Centred around digital transformation and artificial intelligence, the plan comprises 120 tailored initiatives and 10 smart tracks designed to elevate the digital and logistical aspects of the pilgrimage. More than 2,000 trained Saudi personnel will be deployed to assist worshippers and manage the immense operational scale.
The strategy also includes 50 scientific and intellectual programmes and seven specialised enrichment tracks to broadcast the moderate message of Islam in multiple languages.
Integration of digital tools
Advanced reader sensors and smart cameras have been installed across the Grand Mosque to monitor the number of Umrah performers at entry points. This system allows real-time detection of crowd flow, pinpoints congestion hotspots, and helps in redistributing foot traffic – especially in high-density zones such as the Mataf (area for circumambulation around the Kaaba) and Mas’a (path between Safa and Marwa). In a single day, these tools recorded nearly 500,000 pilgrims, highlighting the effectiveness of precision planning supported by digital data.
Hajj 2025 plan
According to Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al Sudais, President of Religious Affairs, the 2025 Hajj plan is structured around three main pillars: honouring the sanctity of time, enhancing the sacred status of the holy sites, and glorifying the holiness of place.
The overarching objective is to communicate the guiding message of the Two Holy Mosques globally through immersive spiritual experiences, delivered with institutional excellence.
Safety and regulation
The Ministry of Interior has reinforced regulations to safeguard the sanctity of Hajj. Visit visa holders are prohibited from entering Makkah and holy sites from Dhu Al-Qi’dah 1 to Dhu Al-Hijjah 14. Violators face fines up to SAR20,000, while residents breaching Hajj laws risk deportation and a 10-year re-entry ban.
Authorities urge the public to report infractions by dialling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 999 elsewhere in the Kingdom.