In response to the tragic deaths of over 1,300 unregistered pilgrims during the recent Hajj season, Saudi Arabia is implementing advanced technology to better monitor and manage the influx of pilgrims.

The Ministry of Hajj has contracted an IT company to develop a sophisticated system that will utilize smart cameras and other technological solutions to track pilgrims throughout their journey. This system will recognize pilgrims upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, monitor their movement on buses, track their entry and exit from residences and holy sites, and compile electronic lists of boarding and housing information.

The technology will also facilitate communication with pilgrims and provide authorities with easy access to their data. The Ministry emphasizes that the system will be user-friendly, easy to operate, and seamlessly integrated with other systems, utilizing trustworthy and reliable technology.

The network will cover key locations including entrances and exits of Mecca, other holy sites, checkpoints, access points to the two holy mosques, bus parking areas, and the main airports in Jeddah and Medina.

The recent Hajj, which took place in June, was marked by extreme heat. Saudi authorities have attributed many of the deaths to undocumented pilgrims who were not properly registered and lacked access to necessary support. They have repeatedly stressed the importance of obtaining a Hajj visa and cracking down on fake tours, emphasizing that a visit visa does not grant permission to perform the pilgrimage.

Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a mandatory pilgrimage that Muslims who are physically and financially capable must perform at least once in their lifetime.