Saudi Arabia launches live crowd updates for Umrah pilgrims

DUBAI — Saudi Arabia has introduced digital services that let Umrah pilgrims monitor crowd levels in real time at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, according to ARY News, which reported the launch on Sunday.

The services provide live displays, instant updates and crowd indicators for the Tawaf area around the Holy Kaaba and the Sa'i walkway between Safa and Marwa. ARY News said pilgrims can use the information to assess congestion before they go to the mosque and choose less busy times for their rituals.

ARY News also described an interactive map covering both mosques. According to the report, the map shows landmarks, locates facilities and suggests routes. It includes approximately 950 points of interest, among them the Holy Kaaba, Maqam Ibrahim, Safa and Marwa at the Grand Mosque. At the Prophet's Mosque, it highlights sites such as 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 more than 17 categories, ARY News said. It also has more than 650 QR codes that give access to information about landmarks, facilities and services. The map links to more than six on-site digital display screens inside the mosques.

The system identifies accessible landmarks and suitable routes for people with disabilities, the report said.

ARY News said the initiative is part of wider efforts to use digital technology to improve crowd management and movement within the two holiest mosques in Islam.

The source material does not include an official statement from Saudi authorities, and it does not give figures on current crowd levels or visitor numbers. It also does not say when the services were first made available.

Background

Mecca and Medina are the two holiest cities in Islam. The Grand Mosque in Mecca surrounds the Holy Kaaba, which Muslims face during prayer. Umrah is a pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of year, and it is separate from the Hajj. The Prophet's Mosque in Medina contains the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad.

Crowd management at both mosques has long been a concern for Saudi authorities, given the number of worshippers who visit each year. The new services are designed to spread visits more evenly across the day.