MAKKAH: Modern technologies have improved crowd management efficiency inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah through smart counting systems that use sensors and real-time monitoring of visitor movement at gates and corridors.

These systems accurately track entrants and exits, enhancing pilgrims’ safety and improving their worship experience, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque said the systems are a key technological pillar supporting crowd management.

It added that real-time data enables field teams to make faster, more accurate decisions to regulate movement and respond to changes in crowd density.

The authority noted that smart technologies help guide visitor movement smoothly, ensuring balanced distribution across levels, courtyards, and corridors.

They also help reduce congestion and enhance safety and comfort standards, it said.

The authority added that smart counting systems allow early detection of high-density areas, enabling proactive intervention and management of potential bottlenecks through an integrated operational system.

It stressed that adopting these technologies is part of ongoing efforts to improve services and enhance pilgrims’ experience in line with development objectives.