Drones to monitor the movement of pilgrims; cooled roadways to reduce surface temperatures by about 12°C
JEDDAH – Taking the utmost advantage of technological advancements, Saudi Arabia plans to use drones to monitor the movement of millions of pilgrims for the annual Haj this year, starting in the first week of June.
It also seeks to expand the flexible rubberised roads designed to ease the journey for pilgrims on foot.
Saudi Arabia is also leveraging advanced technologies like AI, smart robots, and multilingual support to enhance the pilgrimage experience. The “Manarah 2” AI robot and interactive smart screens will provide real-time guidance and information to pilgrims in multiple languages.
The annual Haj this year begins in the first week of June with Standing on Arafat, the pinnacle of the pilgrimage, which is set for June 5, the Supreme Court announced on Tuesday. The day of Arafat will be followed by Eid al-Adha on June 6.
The Haj, one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam, is a mandatory pilgrimage for all able-bodied Muslims. The date of the pilgrimage is governed by the Islamic lunar calendar, shifting each year. In recent years, it has taken place during Saudi Arabia’s scorching summer months.
Outlining preparations for the annual pilgrimage, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser announced on Monday that there would be a 30 per cent increase in the use of flexible rubberised roads.
He also announced an expansion of cooled roadways, which can reduce surface temperatures by about 12°C – an important measure in the extreme summer heat.
In 2024, temperatures peaked at 51.8 Celsius and more than 1,300 people died from heatstroke and related illnesses, according to the authorities.
More than a million pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia. “The total number of pilgrims arriving from outside the kingdom via international ports until the end of Sunday, exceeded one million and 70,000 pilgrims,” Minister of Media, Salman Al Dosari, was quoted by media reports as saying.
Last year, 1.8 million Muslims took part in the Haj, according to official figures.
Many pilgrims also visit the city of Madinah, home to the Prophet Muhammad’s tomb and the second-holiest site in Islam. While not an official part of the Haj, visiting the Prophet’s City remains a significant spiritual experience for Muslims.
The kingdom has also announced several penalties for those violating regulations during Haj – one of the largest mass gatherings in the world.
