JEDDAH: More than 3,000 developers and programmers from all over the world gathered at Jeddah’s International Exhibition and Convention Center on Tuesday for the start of the “Hajj Hackathon.”
The three-day event, believed to be one of the biggest of its kind in the Middle East, tasks participants with creating technology and applications that will help make the Hajj experience easier and more enjoyable for pilgrims.
The information technology experts and enthusiasts — mostly from the Kingdom, the UAE, the USA, Algeria, Egypt, India, Japan, Tunisia, Turkey and Pakistan — spent the first day meeting each other, forming teams and sharing ideas, before work began on creating programs for the event’s competition.
There was also a discussion titled “KSA is the gateway for advanced technology,” featuring guests including: Abdullah Amer Al-Sawah, the minister of communications and information technology; Abdulrahman bin Mutrib, the executive vice president of Al-Tayyar; Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer; and Essam Al-Thukair, deputy governor of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monshaat).
“Monshaat is participating in this event in cooperation with the Saudi Federation for Cyber Security, Programming (SAFCSP),” said Al-Thukair. “This official partnership aims to create an innovative environment that supports the young talents and creates opportunities for them, and to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.”
“We are pleased to announce that we will allocate 20 seats in business incubators to the best developers, underscoring the interest in supporting the digital transformation and innovation that contribute to the Kingdom’s growth in small and medium enterprises.”
Wozniak, who founded Apple with the late Steve Jobs, said: “Thousands of people are participating here trying to be useful and productive. One of the most powerful points of being here is to help the community ... as the country has one of the greatest missions: Hajj.”
The Hackathon is also helping to empower Saudi women by giving them a chance to showcase their educational and technical expertise in programming, to serve their country and the world.
The event continues until Thursday, when the winning ideas will be announced. The top three will receive a share of prizes valued at SR2,000,000 ($533,000) to help transform their ideas into businesses. First place will receive SR1,000,000, second place SR500,000 and third place SR350,000.
Additionally, SR150,000 will be awarded as a prize for excellence.
Apple, Wikipedia founders speak at launch of Hajj Hackathon in Jeddah
Apple, Wikipedia founders speak at launch of Hajj Hackathon in Jeddah
- Will allocate 20 seats in business incubators to the best developers, underscoring the interest in supporting the digital transformation and innovation
- The Hackathon is also helping to empower Saudi women by giving them a chance to showcase their educational and technical expertise in programming
Over 17,000 inspections conducted in Madinah ahead of Ramadan
- Ongoing operational plan involves more than 5,700 personnel, supported by over 1,230 pieces of equipment and machinery
- Work is focusing on health and commercial inspection tours - raising compliance levels with regulatory requirements
RIYADH: The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by the Madinah Regional Municipality, has intensified field and operational preparations to improve service readiness and ensure uninterrupted services for visitors to the holy city during Ramadan, which began Wednesday.
The ongoing operational plan involves more than 5,700 personnel, supported by over 1,230 pieces of equipment and machinery, reflecting the scale of the preparations and the municipality’s capacity to manage the expected crowds and increased activity.
The work is focusing on health and commercial inspection tours, raising compliance levels with regulatory requirements, and boosting oversight of activities related to public health and food safety to ensure a safe and healthy environment, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
The ministry has conducted more than 13,000 inspections targeting health-related activities and nearly 4,000 covering commercial activities.
In addition, 8,000 food and water samples are being collected to verify compliance with approved health standards, as part of an integrated inspection system based on precise performance indicators.
The ministry has enhanced the readiness of emergency teams by implementing 12 alternative plans to ensure rapid response to emergencies and the continued efficient delivery of municipal services during peak times through its executive arm, Madinah Municipality.
