SDAIA strengthens digital backbone for Hajj

Saudi Arabia has widened the use of data, artificial intelligence and secure digital infrastructure across Hajj operations, with the Saudi Data and AI Authority expanding technical support to holy sites, entry points and security screening centres during the 1447 AH pilgrimage season.

The authority operated and supported 75 sites within the holy sites and 14 screening and security control locations, providing technical systems, communications infrastructure, cybersecurity-aligned network links, workstations, maintenance teams and direct operational support for field agencies handling one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.

The expansion comes as 1,707,301 pilgrims performed Hajj this year, including more than 1.5 million from outside the Kingdom. The scale of the pilgrimage has placed higher pressure on transport, crowd movement, identity verification, health response and permit management, pushing Saudi agencies to rely more heavily on integrated digital platforms and real-time analytics.

SDAIA’s role has extended beyond the holy sites to air, land and sea ports, where its systems support the Ministry of Interior and other agencies in processing pilgrims, maintaining data flows and ensuring continuity of services. Key locations covered by the authority’s technical operations include King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, Taif Airport, Jeddah Islamic Port, King Fahd Causeway and several major border crossings.

A central element of the operation is the Smart Makkah Operations Centre, which monitors the performance of digital platforms and response indicators around the clock. The centre is designed to detect technical disruptions before they affect field services, giving authorities a clearer operational picture across pilgrim routes, control rooms and service points.

The authority has also deployed mobile operations centres for the season, creating field-based command environments equipped with smart surveillance tools, interactive systems and secure networks. These centres are intended to support government agencies with faster coordination, immediate data analysis and quicker decisions in areas where crowd density and transport pressure can shift sharply within minutes.

SDAIA’s work reflects a broader Saudi strategy to make Hajj management more predictive rather than reactive. Platforms using computer vision, data analytics and machine learning now support crowd monitoring, permit verification, security surveillance and movement planning. The goal is to reduce congestion, identify abnormal crowd patterns, improve field response and maintain safer movement around Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

The Sawaher platform has become part of the security and crowd-management structure, linking smart surveillance cameras, monitoring rooms and operational platforms across holy sites and roads leading to them. Its systems analyse crowd density, movement indicators and behavioural patterns, giving field commanders data that can be used to direct flows and respond to bottlenecks.

The Baseer platform, developed with the Ministry of Interior, adds another layer of AI-supported monitoring. Using computer vision and advanced algorithms, it tracks crowd movement and supports safety management at the Two Holy Mosques. Its integration with security and service agencies allows operational teams to receive immediate analysis from high-density zones where delays or crowd compression can create risks.

Digital identity and permit systems have also become more important to this year’s Hajj operations. Tawakkalna offers pilgrims services in 19 languages and allows access to Hajj permits through integration with the Tasreeh platform. The wider permit ecosystem is tied to official digital channels used by residents, workers and authorised service providers, helping authorities distinguish licensed pilgrims and personnel from unauthorised entrants.

The Makkah Route Initiative remains another key part of the digital framework. Now in its eighth year, it enables many pilgrims to complete procedures before departure from their home countries, reducing processing pressure after arrival in Saudi Arabia. SDAIA has supported the initiative through technical services in 10 countries and 17 international ports, including digital systems designed to verify documents, visas and biometric data.

A new mobile device backed by data and AI technologies has been introduced to help complete pilgrim procedures more flexibly, particularly for older pilgrims and people with disabilities. The system can capture biometrics, take a facial image and read passport details within about 40 seconds, reducing queue times and improving the flow of travellers through processing points.

The technological expansion sits within Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda and the Pilgrim Experience Programme, which seek to improve service quality, strengthen digital government capabilities and increase the efficiency of religious tourism infrastructure. Hajj has become a test of how far public-sector data integration, AI systems and secure platforms can support a high-density event involving millions of people from different countries, languages and health profiles.