Saudi Arabia has introduced new digital services to help Umrah pilgrims check crowd levels before visiting Islam’s two holiest mosques. The system provides real-time updates for the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
These services allow pilgrims to identify less crowded periods and plan their movements more conveniently. Moreover, interactive maps help visitors locate important religious landmarks, facilities and suitable routes within both mosque complexes.
Live Crowd Updates for Tawaf and Sa’i
The digital platform provides live crowd indicators for key areas where pilgrims perform their rituals. These include the Tawaf area surrounding the Holy Kaaba and the Sa’i walkway between Safa and Marwa.
Through instant updates, worshippers can assess congestion before reaching these locations. Consequently, they can make more informed decisions about when to perform their rituals and how to move through busy areas.
The service aims to make visits more manageable, particularly during periods of heavy attendance. It also supports broader efforts to improve movement and crowd management at the two sacred mosques.
Interactive Maps Offer More Than 100,000 Routes
Alongside crowd monitoring, the platform features an interactive map covering the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. Visitors can use it to explore landmarks, find facilities and identify routes suited to their needs.
The map includes approximately 950 points of interest and landmarks across both locations. At the Grand Mosque, these include the Holy Kaaba, Maqam Ibrahim, Safa and Marwa.
Meanwhile, the map identifies prominent sites at the Prophet’s Mosque, including Al Rawdah Al Sharifah, the Prophet’s Chamber, prayer niches and the Prophet’s pulpit.
The platform offers more than 100,000 possible routes across over 17 categories. As a result, visitors can find relevant facilities and services without relying solely on physical signs.
QR Codes and Digital Screens Improve Navigation
The system also includes more than 650 QR codes that provide quick access to information about landmarks, facilities and available services. Visitors can scan these codes to find relevant details while exploring the mosque complexes.
In addition, the interactive map connects with more than six digital display screens installed on-site. These screens allow visitors to check locations and routes directly while moving around the mosques.
Together, these features offer multiple ways to access navigation information. Therefore, pilgrims can use the digital map and on-site displays to plan their journeys more effectively.
Accessibility Features Support Pilgrims With Disabilities
The digital service also considers the needs of people with disabilities. It identifies accessible landmarks and suitable routes to support easier movement within both mosque complexes.
These features aim to make facilities and religious sites more accessible to a wider range of visitors. They also form part of efforts to improve the overall experience for worshippers.
Overall, Saudi Arabia’s new digital services combine live crowd information, interactive maps and accessibility tools. The initiative seeks to ease congestion, improve navigation and help Umrah pilgrims move more comfortably around the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
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