تسهيلات وتقنيات جديدة يشهدها حج هذا العام تماشياً مع رؤية 2030، بتطوير بيئة المشاعر المقدسة وفقاً لمستجدات التكنولوجيا، وتيسير أداء النسك، وجعل المشاعر قادرة على استيعاب أكبر عدد من الحجاج. ويعد استخدام الذكاء الاصطناعي في الحج فرصة لتعزيز الخدمات اللوجستية، إذ تعمل الخوارزميات والبرامج الذكية على إدارة عمليات تنظيم الحشود بكفاءة عالية؛ ما يضمن سلامة مليوني حاج يتوافدون إلى المشاعر المقدسة من شتى بقاع الأرض. ويتيح تحليل البيانات الآني استجابة سريعة لأي تحديات ناشئة، مما يضمن تجربة حج سلسة وآمنة للجميع.
إنّ منصات الذكاء الاصطناعي والمنصات الرقمية التي تستعين ببراعة الذكاء الاصطناعي مثل ChatGPT وGoogle Bard ومنصات الوسائط الاجتماعية، تمنح الأفراد إمكانية التغلب على الحواجز اللغوية والجغرافية والتواصل مع بعضهم بسلاسة، وأخذت بالتكنولوجيا المتقدمة لجعل تجربة الحج والعمرة أكثر بساطة وراحة وسهولة.
تطبيقات للحجاج.. وأخرى للمنظمين
أعلنت وزارات عدة عشرات التطبيقات الإلكترونية لخدمة الحجاج، تنوعت ما بين تطبيقات خدمية، وأخرى توعوية وإرشادية، إلى جانب تطبيقات تستشرف مستقبل حج ذكي وتسهيل إجراءات شعيرة الحج والعناية بضيوف الرحمن. بعض هذه التطبيقات مخصصة للحجاج، وأخرى للمنظّمين والجهات العاملة داخل المشاعر وخارجها، إضافةً إلى تطبيقات تعمل كوسيط بين عدة جهات عاملة وتطبيقات خدمية تساعد الحجاج في الوصول إلى الخدمات المتاحة.
وشهد موسم الحج تحولاً رقمياً لافتاً، مثل طائرات دون طيار تعمل على توصيل الأدوية، وأخرى لمراقبة المشاعر والطرق المؤدية إليها، وروبوتات للإفتاء، وأخرى لتوزيع عبوات مياه زمزم دون تدخل بشري، وتقنيات ذكية متعددة لتنظيم الحشود في المسجد الحرام، مثل خدمات الإفتاء بالترجمة الفورية، ومكانس التطهير الذكية.
وأسهمت «سدايا» في تطوير المنصة الرقمية الموحدة لتصاريح الحج «منصة تصريح»، التي أطلقتها وزارة الداخلية لإصدار التصاريح التي تخول لحامليها من حجاج الداخل والخارج الدخول إلى مكة المكرمة والمشاعر المقدسة من خلال التكامل التقني مع وزارة الحج عبر منصة (نسك)، وتخول المنصة للعاملين والمتطوعين في أعمال الحج كافة، والمركبات التي تنقلهم، الدخول إلى مكة المكرمة والمشاعر، مع إمكانية استعراض التصاريح عبر التطبيق الوطني الشامل «توكلنا».
«توكلنا»..
تقنية موثوقة
أطلقت الجهات المعنية بخدمة ضيوف الرحمن خدمة استعراض تصاريح الحج عبر «توكلنا»، وذلك بالربط مع المنصة الرقمية الموحدة «منصة تصريح»، وتعمل الخدمة على تسهيل استعراض أنواع تصاريح الحج من الجهات الحكومية كافة، وتشمل بطاقة تصريح الحاج، والتصاريح التي تخول حامليها الدخول إلى مدينة مكة المكرمة والمشاعر المقدسة، مثل: تصريح العاملين في موسم الحج، وتصريح المتطوعين والمركبات التي تنقلهم، ويمكن الاستفادة من تلك الخدمات عن طريق تحميل تطبيق «توكلنا» من المتاجر الإلكترونية.
وتمتدّ باقة الخدمات التي يقدمها «توكلنا» لتسهيل رحلة ضيوف الرحمن والذي يمثل أحد المُمكنات الرقمية البارزة، من خلال ما يقدمه من خدمات متكاملة تلبي مختلف حاجاتهم اليومية، ويُعد التطبيق أداة تقنية موثوقة تعزز راحة الحجاج وسلامتهم، بفضل ما يتميز به من تكامل في الخدمات وسرعة في الاستجابة، بما يجعله رفيقاً رقمياً أساسياً يسهم في الارتقاء بتنقلات ضيوف الرحمن وفق أعلى المعايير التقنية والتنظيمية. ويلبي «توكلنا» العديد من المتطلبات اليومية واللحظية التي يحتاجها الحاج؛ أبرزها خدمات «أسعفني» و«نداء الاستغاثة»، التي تمكن الحاج من تقديم طلب للحالات الطارئة بخطوات سهلة وميسرة، إضافة إلى خدمات الطقس التي تمكن الحاج من معرفة توقعات الطقس اليومي، وتحديد اتجاه القبلة ومواقيت الصلاة، إلى جانب العديد من الخدمات التي تُعين الحاج.
«سواهر».. «إحسان» و«أضاحي»
يعدّ مركز عمليات مكة الذكية «SMART MOC» إحدى أهم الركائز التشغيلية التقنية المتقدمة التي تعزز من قدرات منظومة الحج من الجهات الحكومية العاملة في خدمة ضيوف الرحمن. ويهدف المركز الواقع في مقر «سدايا» بمدينة مكة إلى إدارة ومراقبة الأنظمة والمنصات المتقدمة التي تشرف عليها «سدايا»، وذلك لرفع مستوى الخدمات الرقمية المقدمة للحجاج، ويسهم في تعزيز إدارة الحشود والقدرات الأمنية في المشاعر المقدسة من خلال منظومة متكاملة تشمل منصة «بصير» التي تُعالج البيانات بشكل لحظي باستخدام تقنيات وخوارزميات متقدمة لرصد أعداد الحشود وتوزيعها بدقة وكفاءة داخل الحرمين الشريفين. وفي إطار التكامل التقني بين وزارة الداخلية و«سدايا»، تأتي منصتا «سواهر» و«سواهر قيادة»؛ لتوفر تحليلات ذكية لبث كاميرات المراقبة الأمنية في المشاعر والمنافذ المؤدية إليها، مما يُمكّن من المتابعة اللحظية للحالة الميدانية وتحليل البيانات الضخمة لدعم اتخاذ القرار وتعزيز الكفاءة الأمنية.
كما تعزز المنصة الوطنية للعمل الخيري «إحسان» حضورها خلال الحج من خلال الخدمات والمشاريع التي تسهم في تعظيم الأثر الإنساني والمجتمعي بما يخدم وييسر على ضيوف الرحمن ويلبي مختلف حاجاتهم عبر البذل والعطاء في العديد من الفرص التي تقدمها، وتتيح ضمن مشاريعها فرص كفالة الحجاج الذين لم يسبق لهم أداء الفريضة، إلى جانب تمكينها فرص المشاركة في مشاريع إطعام الحجيج وسقيا الماء.
وتسهم المنصة في دعم برنامج الأضاحي الذي تقدمه بالشراكة مع مشروع المملكة للإفادة من الهدي والأضاحي «أضاحي»، الذي يمكّن المضحين والحجاج من توكيل المنصة بأداء نسك الأضحية عنهم وإيصالها إلى مستحقيها خلال أوقاتها الشرعية بكل موثوقية وأمان، إلى جانب أجهزة التبرع الذاتي في عدد من المساجد والمواقع الإستراتيجية داخل المشاعر المقدسة.
«بنان».. للتعرف على هويات الأفراد
قدمت «سدايا» منتج «بنان»،؛ وهو جهاز متنقل يهدف إلى إتاحة خدمات التعرف والتحقق من هويات الأفراد عبر سماتهم الحيوية للجهات العاملة في الميدان؛ بهدف أتمتة إجراءات إدارة عمليات التحقق من هويات الحشود في المواقع المختلفة لتعزيز تجربة ميسرة وآمنة لضيوف الرحمن، كما يسهم في الاستعلام والتحقق من سجلات السفر والحج، والتحقق من صلاحية التصاريح.
ولم تتوقف جهود «سدايا»، إذ قدمت العديد من الخدمات للحجاج خارج المملكة منطلقة من مبادرة طريق مكة، إحدى مبادرات برنامج خدمة ضيوف الرحمن، وجعلت إجراءات القدوم خلال أقل من 3 دقائق، كما فعلته في مبادرة إياب لتسهيل إجراءات سفر الحجاج آلياً من مقر إقامتهم وقبل الوصول إلى المطار.
وقال عنها مدير عام الجوازات المكلف اللواء دكتور صالح المربع إن عدد الدول المستفيدة من مبادرة طريق مكة ارتفع إلى 8 دول، وتوجد 12 محطة خارج المملكة لخدمة الحجاج في بلدانهم.
وكشف المتحدث باسم المديرية العامة للجوازات الرائد ناصر العتيبي استحداث حزمة من التقنيات الحديثة ضمن جهود الجوازات للتحول الرقمي، أبرزها أنظمة قراءة الجوازات البيومترية المطورة، وتقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي المستخدمة في تحليل البيانات والأنماط التشغيلية للمنافذ.
وأشار إلى أن الخدمات الإلكترونية خلال الحج تقدم عبر باقة واسعة من الخدمات الرقمية عبر منصاتها الرسمية، تشمل إصدار التصاريح، وتحديث المعلومات، وتقديم البلاغات، والاستعلامات الفورية، ضمن إطار متكامل يعزز كفاءة الأداء ويختصر الوقت والجهد على الحجاج والجهات ذات العلاقة.
6 دقائق لإيصال الأدوية
كشف وزير الصحة فهد الجلاجل أن موسم حج هذا العام، يشهد قفزات نوعية في الابتكار الصحي، وأن الابتكارات الرقمية والتقنيات الطبية المتقدمة أصبحت عنصراً جوهرياً في منظومة رعاية الحجيج، وتسهم في تقديم الرعاية في الوقت والمكان المناسبين، وتحفظ حياة الحجاج في أدق الظروف.
وأضاف: إن ما نشهده من تقنيات صحية هذا العام ليس مجرد تحسين خدمات، بل تحوّل شامل في منظومة الاستجابة والرعاية لضيوف الرحمن، مدعوم بتوجيهات القيادة الحكيمة.
وأكد الجلاجل وجود نقلة نوعية في إيصال الأدوية في أرجاء المشاعر المقدسة عن طريق استخدام الطائرات دون طيار (الدرون) في إيصال الإمدادات الدوائية للمستشفيات الميدانية في المشاعر، في سابقة نوعية. وقال إن إيصال الأدوية للمستشفيات كان يستغرق ساعة ونصف الساعة، وبفضل هذه التقنية أصبح الوقت لا يتجاوز 6 دقائق، مما يسرّع إنقاذ الأرواح في الحالات الحرجة. ومن أبرز الابتكارات الصحية لهذا العام، وحدة علاج السكتات الدماغية المتنقلة داخل الحرم، التي أنقذت حاجاً أوغندياً عمره 66 عاماً خلال أدائه الصلاة، وتم إجراء جميع تدخلات علاج السكتة الدماغية خلال 36 دقيقة فقط، وهو وقت يُعد معياراً عالمياً، وخرج الحاج من المستشفى خلال 24 ساعة بصحة تامة. وتضمنت تطبيقات الحج الذكية هذا العام عدداً من الخدمات الصحية؛ منها الاستشارات الطبية التي يمكن الحصول عليها عبر تطبيق «صحة»، الذي يتيح قائمة من الأطباء المعتمدين لتقديم الاستشارات اللازمة للحجاج بالصوت والصورة، مع التقييم النهائي من الطبيب للحالة، إضافةً إلى تطبيق «أسعفني» لفتح البلاغات الطارئة، ويمكن من خلاله تحديد المواقع بدقة عالية، ودعم فئات ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة.
رصد المتسللين عبر «الدرون»
فعّلت قوات أمن الحج منظومة من التقنيات الحديثة، أبرزها الطائرات المسيّرة، التي تُستخدم لمراقبة الحركة في المشاعر المقدسة وتحديد المخالفين الذين يحاولون أداء الحج دون تصريح نظامي. وتقوم الطائرات المزودة بكاميرات عالية الدقة بجولات رقابية لرصد المخالفين والمركبات التي تحاول التسلل، وهي إشارة إلى مستوى التطور الذي وصلت إليه المنظومة الأمنية، للتأكيد على أنه «لا حج بلا تصريح»، مع تفعيل العقوبات بحق المخالفين.
وتُعدّ هذه الطائرات جزءاً من خطة رقابية دقيقة تشمل تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي، والكاميرات الحرارية، ونقاط التفتيش المتقدمة، وتأتي ضمن جهود المملكة لتعزيز التحول الرقمي في قطاع الأمن وتقديم موسم حج آمن ومنظّم لجميع الحجاج.
من جانبها، أعلنت المديرية العامة للدفاع المدني إطلاق طائرة الدرون المخصصة للإطفاء «صقر» المعززة بالذكاء الاصطناعي، إلى جانب الإنقاذ في الأماكن المرتفعة أو صعبة الوصول.
وتعمل الطائرة لمدة 12 ساعة بارتفاعات عالية وحمولة تصل إلى نحو 40 كيلوغراماً بنظام إطفاء متعدد الأغراض وأنظمة إنقاذ وتحكم وأمان وكاميرات حرارية، مع إمكانية بث مباشر للموقع وقابلية الربط بمركز القيادة والتحكم. وتتعدد استخدامات طائرة الدرون «صقر» في المباني الشاهقة والمواقع الصناعية أو المحتوية على مواد خطرة والمناطق المزدحمة وحرائق الغابات
روبوت يتحدث بـ11 لغة
تم تسخير روبوت توجيهي ذكي في المسجد الحرام ودمجه ضمن الخدمات المقدمة؛ ليقدم خدمات الإفتاء بالترجمة الفورية بـ11 لغة عالمية، وهي: اللغة العربية، الإنجليزية، الفرنسية، الروسية، الفارسية، التركية، الملاوية، الأوردية، الصينية، البنغالية وكذلك لغة الهوسا؛ للرد على استفسارات السائلين الشرعية. ويحتوي الروبوت على شاشة 21 بوصة تعمل باللمس. كما استحدثت وكالة الخدمات والشؤون الميدانية ما أطلقت عليه اسم «مكانس التطهير الذكية»، التي تعمل بشكل يدوي وإلكتروني، عن طريق التطبيق الذكي الخاص بها المزود بتقنية خرائط الذكاء الاصطناعي، كما تمت الاستعانة بالروبوتات الذكية لتوزيع عبوات المياه.
أما الهيئة العامة للنقل؛ فمن تقنياتها المرتبطة بالحج زيادة مساحات مبادرة الأسفلت المطاطي المرن الممتدة من محطة قطار المشاعر في مزدلفة إلى عرفات، إلى جانب مبادرة تقنيات تبريد الطرق التي غطت 82% من المواقع مقارنة بالعام الماضي، مع التركيز على المناطق المحيطة بمسجد نمرة، مما يساهم في خفض حرارة سطح الطرق بنحو 12 درجة مئوية، ويعزز راحة وسلامة الحجاج خلال تنقلاتهم.
وأكد وزير النقل صالح الجاسر التوسع في التقنيات الحديثة لتسهيل تجربة الحجاج، لافتاً إلى توسيع تجربة الطرق المبردة لتخفيف شدة حرارة الجو على الحجاج، وتحسين بيئة التنقل، ورفع مستوى الراحة لضيوف الرحمن.
وكشف الجاسر أدوات التوسع في التقنية الحديثة التي ينفذها المركز الوطني لسلامة النقل، ومنها طائرات دون طيار (الدرون) كأداة متقدمة لتوثيق مواقع الحوادث والوقائع بمستوى عالٍ من الدقة والسرعة، وتتيح هذه التقنية التقاط صور جوية بانورامية ثلاثية الأبعاد، تسهم في تحليل المشهد بشكل شامل، ودعم التحقيقات الفنية بكفاءة أكبر.
وكانت الهيئة العامة للنقل قد قدمت مبادرة نظارة الواقع المعزز بنسختها المتطورة التي يمكنها توثيق عملية الفحص ورصد المخالفات، وإرسالها لمركز البيانات والتحكم في وقت قياسي يستغرق 6 ثوانٍ فقط.
من أبرز ما سيكتشفه الحجاج هذا العام أيضا هو الطبيب الآلي؛ إذ تم تجهيز العديد من الروبوتات من أجل توفير الخدمة الطبية للحجاج. وفي السابق كان الحاج يضطر لقضاء ساعات طويلة من أجل التمكن من صرف العلاج الذي يحتاجه، وذلك بسبب أعداد المرضى الكبيرة والأطباء القليل. بيد أن هذا الأمر سيتغير، فالروبوت قادر على توجيه إرشادات طبية وفهم الحالة، وفي الحالات المستعصية سيتم تحويل المريض للطبيب مباشرة مع شرح الأعراض.
ومن ضمن الخدمات المقدمة التي سيلمسها حجاج بيت الله «سوار الحج الذكي»، الذي به خاصية متابعة ورصد بيانات الحالة الصحية للحاج المتعلقة بقياس نسبة أكسجين الدم ونبضات القلب، وخدمات طلب المساعدة الأمنية أو الطبية الطارئة، مما يسهم في سرعة الوصول إلى موقع الحاج ومساعدته.
وجرى تحديث وتطوير التطبيق هذا الموسم بشكل موسع، ليكون رفيقاً للحاج خلال رحلته لأداء مناسك الحج، إذ يقدم شرحاً تفصيلياً ومبسطاً لكيفية أداء المناسك، والعديد من الفتاوى المختارة للإجابة عن أسئلة الحاج المحتملة، ويقدم حزمة إرشادات مفيدة ومهمة لتيسير رحلة الحج المباركة لضيوف الرحمن، إذ يتيح التطبيق عناوين وخريطة تفاعلية تحدد للحاج بشكل تفصيلي موقع الحملات القُطرِية في مكة، وإمكانية معرفة درجة الحرارة وسرعة الرياح.
الروبوت الطبيب!
100 خدمة جديدة لـ«نسك»
أكد وزير الحج والعمرة توفيق الربيعة على التحول الرقمي الذي تشهده المملكة في الوقت الراهن، واستعرض بعض المبادرات، منها «بطاقة نسك»، التي توفر خصائص أمنية وصحية متقدمة، بما يضمن تنقل الحجاج بسهولة، وتيسير دخولهم إلى الحرم، كما أنها تحتوي على معلومات عن الحاج وحالته الصحية والسكنية، مؤكداً أنه تم إصدار 1.4 مليون بطاقة حتى الآن للحجاج والعاملين في منظومة الحج.
وبين أن هذا العام يشهد تطويراً شاملاً لتطبيق «نسك»، بإضافة 100 خدمة شاملة لتحسين تجربة العمرة والزيارة، موضحاً أنه تمت إضافة 30 خدمة جديدة للتطبيق مخصصة لموسم حج 1446هـ، ليكون خير مرافق للحجاج في أداء المناسك والحصول على الخدمات المختلفة. أما الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي فاستحدثت «روبوتاً» مخصصاً لتعقيم المسجد الحرام. ويغطي الابتكار الروبوتي الفريد من نوعه مساحات شاسعة داخل المسجد ومختلف مرافقه، مما يوفر عملية تعقيم فعالة وشاملة دون الحاجة إلى أي تدخل بشري، بفضل السعة الهائلة التي تزيد على 68 لتراً من الماء والقدرة على تغطية أكثر من 1000 متر مربع في الساعة، ويعمل روبوت التعقيم بسلاسة لضمان البيئة النقية لزوار الرحمن. كما وسّعت الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي مبادراتها الرقمية لتوفير تجربة سلسة ومتقدمة تقنياً للحجاج وزوار الحرمين الشريفين، مع وضع الخطة الإستراتيجية الكاملة الخاصة بالعام 2024، إذ تم إدخال 50 خدمة إلكترونية متنوعة و10 تطبيقات و4 مواقع إلكترونية. وتساهم هذه المنصات الرقمية في صيانة وتشغيل وتطوير الأنظمة والخدمات الإلكترونية، بما في ذلك تكوين الخوادم الإلكترونية المخصّصة لإعداد ضوابط الشبكة وسلاسة تدفقها، والتوزيع السلكي واللاسلكي، وإنشاء الغرف الحديثة لمراكز البيانات والمعلومات.
ومن ضمن التقنيّات المتقدّمة التي تخدم ضيوف الرحمن «سوار الحج» الذكي أو «سوار نسك»، الذي يعمل بتقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي، وبه خاصية متابعة ورصد بيانات الحالة الصحية ونسب الأكسجين في الدم، ونبضات القلب، ويحتوي على شريحة GPS لتحديد المواقع.
من «الروبوت» الطبيب و«بنان» الهويات إلى «درون» إطفاء الحرائق
«حج ذكي» بلا متاعب أو تدافع
6 يونيو 2025 - 08:38
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آخر تحديث 6 يونيو 2025 - 08:38
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
إبراهيم العلوي (المشاعر المقدسة) i_waleeed22@
New facilities and technologies are being witnessed in this year's Hajj in line with Vision 2030, aimed at developing the environment of the holy sites according to technological advancements, facilitating the performance of rituals, and enabling the holy sites to accommodate the largest number of pilgrims. The use of artificial intelligence in Hajj presents an opportunity to enhance logistical services, as algorithms and smart programs efficiently manage crowd control operations; ensuring the safety of the two million pilgrims arriving at the holy sites from various parts of the world. Real-time data analysis allows for quick responses to emerging challenges, ensuring a smooth and safe Hajj experience for everyone.
AI platforms and digital platforms that cleverly utilize artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, along with social media platforms, provide individuals with the ability to overcome language and geographical barriers and communicate seamlessly with one another, adopting advanced technology to make the Hajj and Umrah experience simpler, more comfortable, and easier.
Applications for pilgrims... and others for organizers
Several ministries have announced dozens of electronic applications to serve pilgrims, ranging from service applications to awareness and guidance applications, in addition to applications that envision a smart Hajj and facilitate the procedures of the Hajj rituals and care for the guests of Allah. Some of these applications are dedicated to pilgrims, while others are for organizers and entities operating inside and outside the holy sites, in addition to applications that act as intermediaries between several operating entities and service applications that help pilgrims access available services.
This Hajj season has witnessed a remarkable digital transformation, such as drones delivering medicines, others monitoring the holy sites and the roads leading to them, fatwa robots, and others distributing Zamzam water bottles without human intervention, along with various smart technologies for crowd management in the Grand Mosque, such as fatwa services with instant translation and smart cleaning robots.
“SDAIA” contributed to the development of the unified digital platform for Hajj permits, “Permit Platform,” launched by the Ministry of Interior to issue permits that allow holders from both domestic and international pilgrims to enter Mecca and the holy sites through technical integration with the Ministry of Hajj via the “Nusk” platform. The platform allows workers and volunteers in all Hajj-related activities, as well as the vehicles transporting them, to enter Mecca and the holy sites, with the ability to view permits through the comprehensive national application “Tawakkalna.”
“Tawakkalna”..
Reliable technology
The relevant authorities serving the guests of Allah launched the service to view Hajj permits through “Tawakkalna,” by linking it with the unified digital platform “Permit Platform.” This service facilitates the viewing of various types of Hajj permits from all governmental entities, including the pilgrim permit, and permits that allow holders to enter the city of Mecca and the holy sites, such as permits for workers during the Hajj season, volunteer permits, and the vehicles transporting them. These services can be accessed by downloading the “Tawakkalna” application from electronic stores.
The package of services provided by “Tawakkalna” extends to facilitate the journey of the guests of Allah, representing one of the prominent digital enablers, through its comprehensive services that meet various daily needs. The application is a reliable technical tool that enhances the comfort and safety of pilgrims, thanks to its integrated services and rapid response, making it an essential digital companion that contributes to improving the movements of the guests of Allah according to the highest technical and organizational standards. “Tawakkalna” meets many daily and immediate requirements needed by the pilgrim; most notably the “Emergency Call” and “Emergency Request” services, which enable the pilgrim to submit requests for emergency cases with easy and simple steps, in addition to weather services that allow the pilgrim to know daily weather forecasts, determine the direction of the Qibla, and prayer times, along with many services that assist the pilgrim.
“Suhar”.. “Ehsan” and “Sacrifices”
The Smart Operations Center in Mecca, “SMART MOC,” is one of the most important advanced technical operational pillars that enhance the capabilities of the Hajj system from the governmental entities serving the guests of Allah. The center, located at the “SDAIA” headquarters in Mecca, aims to manage and monitor the advanced systems and platforms overseen by “SDAIA,” in order to elevate the level of digital services provided to pilgrims, and contributes to enhancing crowd management and security capabilities in the holy sites through an integrated system that includes the “Basir” platform, which processes data in real-time using advanced technologies and algorithms to accurately and efficiently monitor and distribute crowd numbers within the two holy mosques. As part of the technical integration between the Ministry of Interior and “SDAIA,” the “Suhar” and “Suhar Leadership” platforms come to provide intelligent analyses for broadcasting security surveillance cameras in the holy sites and the access points leading to them, enabling real-time monitoring of the field situation and analyzing big data to support decision-making and enhance security efficiency.
The national platform for charitable work “Ehsan” also enhances its presence during Hajj through services and projects that contribute to maximizing the humanitarian and community impact, serving and facilitating for the guests of Allah and meeting their various needs through the generosity and giving in many opportunities it provides. It offers opportunities to sponsor pilgrims who have not previously performed the obligatory pilgrimage, in addition to enabling participation in projects to feed the pilgrims and provide them with water.
The platform supports the sacrificial program it offers in partnership with the Kingdom's project for benefiting from the Hadi and sacrifices “Sacrifices,” which enables those who wish to sacrifice and pilgrims to delegate the platform to perform the sacrificial rituals on their behalf and deliver it to those entitled to it during its legal times with reliability and safety, in addition to self-donation devices in several mosques and strategic locations within the holy sites.
“Banan”.. for identifying individuals' identities
“SDAIA” introduced the “Banan” product; a mobile device aimed at providing identification and verification services of individuals through their biometric traits for the entities operating in the field; aiming to automate the procedures for managing crowd identity verification operations in various locations to enhance a smooth and safe experience for the guests of Allah. It also contributes to inquiring and verifying travel and Hajj records, and checking the validity of permits.
“SDAIA” did not stop its efforts, as it provided many services for pilgrims outside the Kingdom, stemming from the “Makkah Route” initiative, one of the initiatives of the Guest of Allah Service Program, making the arrival procedures take less than 3 minutes, as it did in the “Return” initiative to facilitate the travel procedures of pilgrims automatically from their place of residence before reaching the airport.
The Director General of Passports, Major General Dr. Saleh Al-Murabba, stated that the number of countries benefiting from the “Makkah Route” initiative has risen to 8 countries, with 12 stations outside the Kingdom to serve pilgrims in their countries.
The spokesperson for the General Directorate of Passports, Captain Nasser Al-Otaibi, revealed the introduction of a package of modern technologies as part of the efforts of the passports for digital transformation, most notably the developed biometric passport reading systems, and artificial intelligence technologies used in data analysis and operational patterns at the entry points.
He pointed out that electronic services during Hajj are offered through a wide range of digital services via its official platforms, including issuing permits, updating information, submitting reports, and instant inquiries, within an integrated framework that enhances performance efficiency and saves time and effort for pilgrims and relevant entities.
6 minutes to deliver medicines
The Minister of Health, Fahd Al-Jalajel, revealed that this year's Hajj season witnesses qualitative leaps in health innovation, and that digital innovations and advanced medical technologies have become an essential element in the care system for pilgrims, contributing to providing care at the right time and place, preserving the lives of pilgrims under the most delicate circumstances.
He added: What we are witnessing in health technologies this year is not just an improvement in services, but a comprehensive transformation in the response and care system for the guests of Allah, supported by the directives of wise leadership.
Al-Jalajel confirmed the existence of a qualitative leap in delivering medicines throughout the holy sites by using drones to deliver medical supplies to field hospitals in the holy sites, in a unique precedent. He stated that delivering medicines to hospitals used to take an hour and a half, but thanks to this technology, the time does not exceed 6 minutes, which accelerates saving lives in critical cases. Among the most prominent health innovations this year is the mobile stroke treatment unit inside the Grand Mosque, which saved a 66-year-old Ugandan pilgrim during his prayer, and all stroke treatment interventions were performed within just 36 minutes, which is considered a global benchmark, and the pilgrim was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours in complete health. This year's smart Hajj applications include several health services; including medical consultations that can be obtained through the “Seha” application, which provides a list of accredited doctors to offer necessary consultations to pilgrims via audio and video, with a final evaluation from the doctor regarding the case, in addition to the “Emergency Call” application for opening emergency reports, which allows for precise location identification and supports people with special needs.
Monitoring infiltrators via “drones”
The Hajj security forces activated a system of modern technologies, most notably drones, which are used to monitor movement in the holy sites and identify violators attempting to perform Hajj without a valid permit. Drones equipped with high-definition cameras conduct surveillance rounds to detect violators and vehicles attempting to infiltrate, signaling the level of development that the security system has reached, emphasizing that “there is no Hajj without a permit,” with penalties activated against violators.
These drones are part of a precise monitoring plan that includes artificial intelligence technologies, thermal cameras, and advanced checkpoints, as part of the Kingdom's efforts to enhance digital transformation in the security sector and provide a safe and organized Hajj season for all pilgrims.
For its part, the General Directorate of Civil Defense announced the launch of the firefighting drone “Saqr,” enhanced with artificial intelligence, in addition to rescue operations in high or hard-to-reach places.
The drone operates for 12 hours at high altitudes with a load capacity of about 40 kilograms, featuring a multi-purpose firefighting system and rescue, control, safety systems, and thermal cameras, with the ability to broadcast live from the site and connect to the command and control center. The uses of the “Saqr” drone are numerous in high-rise buildings, industrial sites, or those containing hazardous materials, crowded areas, and forest fires.
A robot that speaks 11 languages
An intelligent guiding robot has been harnessed in the Grand Mosque and integrated into the services provided; to offer fatwa services with instant translation in 11 global languages, including Arabic, English, French, Russian, Persian, Turkish, Malay, Urdu, Chinese, Bengali, and Hausa; to respond to the legal inquiries of the questioners. The robot features a 21-inch touchscreen. The Agency for Services and Field Affairs has also introduced what it calls “smart cleaning robots,” which operate manually and electronically, through its smart application equipped with artificial intelligence mapping technology, and smart robots have also been utilized to distribute water bottles.
As for the General Transport Authority; its technologies related to Hajj include increasing the areas of the flexible rubber asphalt initiative extending from the train station in Muzdalifah to Arafat, in addition to the road cooling technologies initiative that covered 82% of the sites compared to last year, focusing on the areas surrounding the Namira Mosque, contributing to reducing the surface temperature of the roads by about 12 degrees Celsius, enhancing the comfort and safety of pilgrims during their movements.
Minister of Transport Saleh Al-Jasser confirmed the expansion of modern technologies to facilitate the experience of pilgrims, noting the expansion of the cooled road experience to alleviate the intensity of heat on pilgrims, improve the transportation environment, and raise the level of comfort for the guests of Allah.
Al-Jasser revealed the tools for expanding modern technology implemented by the National Center for Transport Safety, including drones as an advanced tool for documenting accident locations and incidents with a high level of accuracy and speed, allowing for capturing panoramic aerial images in three dimensions, contributing to comprehensive scene analysis and supporting technical investigations more efficiently.
The General Transport Authority had previously presented an augmented reality glasses initiative in its advanced version, capable of documenting the inspection process and monitoring violations, sending them to the data and control center in a record time of only 6 seconds.
Among the most notable discoveries for pilgrims this year is also the robotic doctor; as many robots have been prepared to provide medical service to pilgrims. Previously, a pilgrim had to spend long hours to obtain the treatment they needed due to the large number of patients and the few doctors. However, this will change, as the robot is capable of providing medical guidance and understanding the condition, and in critical cases, the patient will be referred directly to the doctor with an explanation of the symptoms.
Among the services offered that pilgrims will experience is the “Smart Hajj Bracelet,” which has the feature of monitoring and tracking the health data of the pilgrim related to measuring blood oxygen levels and heartbeats, and emergency security or medical assistance requests, contributing to rapid access to the pilgrim's location and assisting them.
This season, the application has been extensively updated and developed to be a companion for the pilgrim during their journey to perform the Hajj rituals, providing a detailed and simplified explanation of how to perform the rituals, and many selected fatwas to answer potential questions from pilgrims, offering a package of useful and important guidelines to facilitate the blessed Hajj journey for the guests of Allah, allowing the application to provide addresses and an interactive map that precisely defines the location of the pilgrimage campaigns in Mecca, and the ability to know the temperature and wind speed.
The robotic doctor!
100 new services for “Nusk”
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, emphasized the digital transformation that the Kingdom is currently witnessing, and reviewed some initiatives, including the “Nusk Card,” which provides advanced security and health features, ensuring the easy movement of pilgrims and facilitating their entry into the mosque, as it contains information about the pilgrim and their health and accommodation status, confirming that 1.4 million cards have been issued so far for pilgrims and those working in the Hajj system.
He indicated that this year witnesses a comprehensive development of the “Nusk” application, adding 100 comprehensive services to improve the experience of Umrah and visitation, explaining that 30 new services have been added to the application specifically for the 1446 Hajj season, making it a good companion for pilgrims in performing the rituals and obtaining various services. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has introduced a “robot” dedicated to disinfecting the Grand Mosque. This unique robotic innovation covers vast areas inside the mosque and its various facilities, providing an effective and comprehensive disinfection process without the need for any human intervention, thanks to its enormous capacity of over 68 liters of water and the ability to cover more than 1,000 square meters per hour, operating smoothly to ensure a pure environment for the visitors of Allah. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has also expanded its digital initiatives to provide a seamless and technologically advanced experience for pilgrims and visitors to the two holy mosques, with the complete strategic plan for the year 2024 in place, having introduced 50 diverse electronic services, 10 applications, and 4 websites. These digital platforms contribute to the maintenance, operation, and development of electronic systems and services, including the formation of dedicated electronic servers to set network controls and ensure smooth flow, wired and wireless distribution, and the establishment of modern rooms for data and information centers.
Among the advanced technologies serving the guests of Allah is the “Smart Hajj Bracelet” or “Nusk Bracelet,” which operates with artificial intelligence technologies, featuring the ability to monitor and track health data and blood oxygen levels, heartbeats, and containing a GPS chip for location identification.
AI platforms and digital platforms that cleverly utilize artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, along with social media platforms, provide individuals with the ability to overcome language and geographical barriers and communicate seamlessly with one another, adopting advanced technology to make the Hajj and Umrah experience simpler, more comfortable, and easier.
Applications for pilgrims... and others for organizers
Several ministries have announced dozens of electronic applications to serve pilgrims, ranging from service applications to awareness and guidance applications, in addition to applications that envision a smart Hajj and facilitate the procedures of the Hajj rituals and care for the guests of Allah. Some of these applications are dedicated to pilgrims, while others are for organizers and entities operating inside and outside the holy sites, in addition to applications that act as intermediaries between several operating entities and service applications that help pilgrims access available services.
This Hajj season has witnessed a remarkable digital transformation, such as drones delivering medicines, others monitoring the holy sites and the roads leading to them, fatwa robots, and others distributing Zamzam water bottles without human intervention, along with various smart technologies for crowd management in the Grand Mosque, such as fatwa services with instant translation and smart cleaning robots.
“SDAIA” contributed to the development of the unified digital platform for Hajj permits, “Permit Platform,” launched by the Ministry of Interior to issue permits that allow holders from both domestic and international pilgrims to enter Mecca and the holy sites through technical integration with the Ministry of Hajj via the “Nusk” platform. The platform allows workers and volunteers in all Hajj-related activities, as well as the vehicles transporting them, to enter Mecca and the holy sites, with the ability to view permits through the comprehensive national application “Tawakkalna.”
“Tawakkalna”..
Reliable technology
The relevant authorities serving the guests of Allah launched the service to view Hajj permits through “Tawakkalna,” by linking it with the unified digital platform “Permit Platform.” This service facilitates the viewing of various types of Hajj permits from all governmental entities, including the pilgrim permit, and permits that allow holders to enter the city of Mecca and the holy sites, such as permits for workers during the Hajj season, volunteer permits, and the vehicles transporting them. These services can be accessed by downloading the “Tawakkalna” application from electronic stores.
The package of services provided by “Tawakkalna” extends to facilitate the journey of the guests of Allah, representing one of the prominent digital enablers, through its comprehensive services that meet various daily needs. The application is a reliable technical tool that enhances the comfort and safety of pilgrims, thanks to its integrated services and rapid response, making it an essential digital companion that contributes to improving the movements of the guests of Allah according to the highest technical and organizational standards. “Tawakkalna” meets many daily and immediate requirements needed by the pilgrim; most notably the “Emergency Call” and “Emergency Request” services, which enable the pilgrim to submit requests for emergency cases with easy and simple steps, in addition to weather services that allow the pilgrim to know daily weather forecasts, determine the direction of the Qibla, and prayer times, along with many services that assist the pilgrim.
“Suhar”.. “Ehsan” and “Sacrifices”
The Smart Operations Center in Mecca, “SMART MOC,” is one of the most important advanced technical operational pillars that enhance the capabilities of the Hajj system from the governmental entities serving the guests of Allah. The center, located at the “SDAIA” headquarters in Mecca, aims to manage and monitor the advanced systems and platforms overseen by “SDAIA,” in order to elevate the level of digital services provided to pilgrims, and contributes to enhancing crowd management and security capabilities in the holy sites through an integrated system that includes the “Basir” platform, which processes data in real-time using advanced technologies and algorithms to accurately and efficiently monitor and distribute crowd numbers within the two holy mosques. As part of the technical integration between the Ministry of Interior and “SDAIA,” the “Suhar” and “Suhar Leadership” platforms come to provide intelligent analyses for broadcasting security surveillance cameras in the holy sites and the access points leading to them, enabling real-time monitoring of the field situation and analyzing big data to support decision-making and enhance security efficiency.
The national platform for charitable work “Ehsan” also enhances its presence during Hajj through services and projects that contribute to maximizing the humanitarian and community impact, serving and facilitating for the guests of Allah and meeting their various needs through the generosity and giving in many opportunities it provides. It offers opportunities to sponsor pilgrims who have not previously performed the obligatory pilgrimage, in addition to enabling participation in projects to feed the pilgrims and provide them with water.
The platform supports the sacrificial program it offers in partnership with the Kingdom's project for benefiting from the Hadi and sacrifices “Sacrifices,” which enables those who wish to sacrifice and pilgrims to delegate the platform to perform the sacrificial rituals on their behalf and deliver it to those entitled to it during its legal times with reliability and safety, in addition to self-donation devices in several mosques and strategic locations within the holy sites.
“Banan”.. for identifying individuals' identities
“SDAIA” introduced the “Banan” product; a mobile device aimed at providing identification and verification services of individuals through their biometric traits for the entities operating in the field; aiming to automate the procedures for managing crowd identity verification operations in various locations to enhance a smooth and safe experience for the guests of Allah. It also contributes to inquiring and verifying travel and Hajj records, and checking the validity of permits.
“SDAIA” did not stop its efforts, as it provided many services for pilgrims outside the Kingdom, stemming from the “Makkah Route” initiative, one of the initiatives of the Guest of Allah Service Program, making the arrival procedures take less than 3 minutes, as it did in the “Return” initiative to facilitate the travel procedures of pilgrims automatically from their place of residence before reaching the airport.
The Director General of Passports, Major General Dr. Saleh Al-Murabba, stated that the number of countries benefiting from the “Makkah Route” initiative has risen to 8 countries, with 12 stations outside the Kingdom to serve pilgrims in their countries.
The spokesperson for the General Directorate of Passports, Captain Nasser Al-Otaibi, revealed the introduction of a package of modern technologies as part of the efforts of the passports for digital transformation, most notably the developed biometric passport reading systems, and artificial intelligence technologies used in data analysis and operational patterns at the entry points.
He pointed out that electronic services during Hajj are offered through a wide range of digital services via its official platforms, including issuing permits, updating information, submitting reports, and instant inquiries, within an integrated framework that enhances performance efficiency and saves time and effort for pilgrims and relevant entities.
6 minutes to deliver medicines
The Minister of Health, Fahd Al-Jalajel, revealed that this year's Hajj season witnesses qualitative leaps in health innovation, and that digital innovations and advanced medical technologies have become an essential element in the care system for pilgrims, contributing to providing care at the right time and place, preserving the lives of pilgrims under the most delicate circumstances.
He added: What we are witnessing in health technologies this year is not just an improvement in services, but a comprehensive transformation in the response and care system for the guests of Allah, supported by the directives of wise leadership.
Al-Jalajel confirmed the existence of a qualitative leap in delivering medicines throughout the holy sites by using drones to deliver medical supplies to field hospitals in the holy sites, in a unique precedent. He stated that delivering medicines to hospitals used to take an hour and a half, but thanks to this technology, the time does not exceed 6 minutes, which accelerates saving lives in critical cases. Among the most prominent health innovations this year is the mobile stroke treatment unit inside the Grand Mosque, which saved a 66-year-old Ugandan pilgrim during his prayer, and all stroke treatment interventions were performed within just 36 minutes, which is considered a global benchmark, and the pilgrim was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours in complete health. This year's smart Hajj applications include several health services; including medical consultations that can be obtained through the “Seha” application, which provides a list of accredited doctors to offer necessary consultations to pilgrims via audio and video, with a final evaluation from the doctor regarding the case, in addition to the “Emergency Call” application for opening emergency reports, which allows for precise location identification and supports people with special needs.
Monitoring infiltrators via “drones”
The Hajj security forces activated a system of modern technologies, most notably drones, which are used to monitor movement in the holy sites and identify violators attempting to perform Hajj without a valid permit. Drones equipped with high-definition cameras conduct surveillance rounds to detect violators and vehicles attempting to infiltrate, signaling the level of development that the security system has reached, emphasizing that “there is no Hajj without a permit,” with penalties activated against violators.
These drones are part of a precise monitoring plan that includes artificial intelligence technologies, thermal cameras, and advanced checkpoints, as part of the Kingdom's efforts to enhance digital transformation in the security sector and provide a safe and organized Hajj season for all pilgrims.
For its part, the General Directorate of Civil Defense announced the launch of the firefighting drone “Saqr,” enhanced with artificial intelligence, in addition to rescue operations in high or hard-to-reach places.
The drone operates for 12 hours at high altitudes with a load capacity of about 40 kilograms, featuring a multi-purpose firefighting system and rescue, control, safety systems, and thermal cameras, with the ability to broadcast live from the site and connect to the command and control center. The uses of the “Saqr” drone are numerous in high-rise buildings, industrial sites, or those containing hazardous materials, crowded areas, and forest fires.
A robot that speaks 11 languages
An intelligent guiding robot has been harnessed in the Grand Mosque and integrated into the services provided; to offer fatwa services with instant translation in 11 global languages, including Arabic, English, French, Russian, Persian, Turkish, Malay, Urdu, Chinese, Bengali, and Hausa; to respond to the legal inquiries of the questioners. The robot features a 21-inch touchscreen. The Agency for Services and Field Affairs has also introduced what it calls “smart cleaning robots,” which operate manually and electronically, through its smart application equipped with artificial intelligence mapping technology, and smart robots have also been utilized to distribute water bottles.
As for the General Transport Authority; its technologies related to Hajj include increasing the areas of the flexible rubber asphalt initiative extending from the train station in Muzdalifah to Arafat, in addition to the road cooling technologies initiative that covered 82% of the sites compared to last year, focusing on the areas surrounding the Namira Mosque, contributing to reducing the surface temperature of the roads by about 12 degrees Celsius, enhancing the comfort and safety of pilgrims during their movements.
Minister of Transport Saleh Al-Jasser confirmed the expansion of modern technologies to facilitate the experience of pilgrims, noting the expansion of the cooled road experience to alleviate the intensity of heat on pilgrims, improve the transportation environment, and raise the level of comfort for the guests of Allah.
Al-Jasser revealed the tools for expanding modern technology implemented by the National Center for Transport Safety, including drones as an advanced tool for documenting accident locations and incidents with a high level of accuracy and speed, allowing for capturing panoramic aerial images in three dimensions, contributing to comprehensive scene analysis and supporting technical investigations more efficiently.
The General Transport Authority had previously presented an augmented reality glasses initiative in its advanced version, capable of documenting the inspection process and monitoring violations, sending them to the data and control center in a record time of only 6 seconds.
Among the most notable discoveries for pilgrims this year is also the robotic doctor; as many robots have been prepared to provide medical service to pilgrims. Previously, a pilgrim had to spend long hours to obtain the treatment they needed due to the large number of patients and the few doctors. However, this will change, as the robot is capable of providing medical guidance and understanding the condition, and in critical cases, the patient will be referred directly to the doctor with an explanation of the symptoms.
Among the services offered that pilgrims will experience is the “Smart Hajj Bracelet,” which has the feature of monitoring and tracking the health data of the pilgrim related to measuring blood oxygen levels and heartbeats, and emergency security or medical assistance requests, contributing to rapid access to the pilgrim's location and assisting them.
This season, the application has been extensively updated and developed to be a companion for the pilgrim during their journey to perform the Hajj rituals, providing a detailed and simplified explanation of how to perform the rituals, and many selected fatwas to answer potential questions from pilgrims, offering a package of useful and important guidelines to facilitate the blessed Hajj journey for the guests of Allah, allowing the application to provide addresses and an interactive map that precisely defines the location of the pilgrimage campaigns in Mecca, and the ability to know the temperature and wind speed.
The robotic doctor!
100 new services for “Nusk”
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, emphasized the digital transformation that the Kingdom is currently witnessing, and reviewed some initiatives, including the “Nusk Card,” which provides advanced security and health features, ensuring the easy movement of pilgrims and facilitating their entry into the mosque, as it contains information about the pilgrim and their health and accommodation status, confirming that 1.4 million cards have been issued so far for pilgrims and those working in the Hajj system.
He indicated that this year witnesses a comprehensive development of the “Nusk” application, adding 100 comprehensive services to improve the experience of Umrah and visitation, explaining that 30 new services have been added to the application specifically for the 1446 Hajj season, making it a good companion for pilgrims in performing the rituals and obtaining various services. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has introduced a “robot” dedicated to disinfecting the Grand Mosque. This unique robotic innovation covers vast areas inside the mosque and its various facilities, providing an effective and comprehensive disinfection process without the need for any human intervention, thanks to its enormous capacity of over 68 liters of water and the ability to cover more than 1,000 square meters per hour, operating smoothly to ensure a pure environment for the visitors of Allah. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has also expanded its digital initiatives to provide a seamless and technologically advanced experience for pilgrims and visitors to the two holy mosques, with the complete strategic plan for the year 2024 in place, having introduced 50 diverse electronic services, 10 applications, and 4 websites. These digital platforms contribute to the maintenance, operation, and development of electronic systems and services, including the formation of dedicated electronic servers to set network controls and ensure smooth flow, wired and wireless distribution, and the establishment of modern rooms for data and information centers.
Among the advanced technologies serving the guests of Allah is the “Smart Hajj Bracelet” or “Nusk Bracelet,” which operates with artificial intelligence technologies, featuring the ability to monitor and track health data and blood oxygen levels, heartbeats, and containing a GPS chip for location identification.
