Engineering peace at Hajj through automated management systems

This year’s Hajj season will begin on May 25 and last six days. It may differ from previous years, as those attempting to perform Hajj illegally using visitor visas will not be able to do so — not because of penalties, including immediate deportation and a 10-year entry ban to Saudi Arabia, but due to technology and artificial intelligence.

This is because the smart Nusuk card issued by Saudi authorities serves as the sole digital access key to the holy sites. Without it, no one will be able to pass through checkpoints, enter air-conditioned camps, use the Al-Mashaaer train, or register for official campaigns.

These measures did not come out of nowhere. During the 2024 Hajj, the Saudi Ministry of Health reported more than 1,100 deaths among pilgrims and said that 83 percent were unauthorized pilgrims. The same percentage was cited in a study in the Saudi Journal of Preventive Medicine in July 2025, with deaths attributed to long-distance walking under direct sunlight, with temperatures reaching 51.8 degrees Celsius.

However, what interests me most about Hajj as a researcher and specialist is crowd management. It has changed significantly in recent years. Routes are now time-scheduled for each group of pilgrims, meaning electronic gates automatically deny entry to those outside their designated time slots. Mathematical modeling technology has also been adopted to predict congestion 15 minutes before it occurs and adjust pilgrim routes through smart signage.

This is supported by a study published by the Hajj Research Institute in collaboration with experts at the Saudi Data and AI Authority in March 2026, which states that 70 percent of crowd management decisions — such as opening or closing routes — are now executed automatically using algorithms from the Basir platform, developed by SDAIA.

These systems analyze crowd density in real time using thousands of sensors and smart cameras, generating heat maps of congestion hotspots and enabling smart crowd control, reducing the need for security personnel to give instructions via megaphones or manage flow from barriers.

In addition, a study published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, in collaboration with the Center of Excellence in Crowd Management Intelligence at King Abdulaziz University, projected that by 2025 — with developments continuing into 2026 — crowd control would shift from human oversight to intelligent management. 

Pilgrim crowd management must shift from a heavy-handed approach and excessive deployment of personnel — which increases noise, overcrowding, and heat stress — to a more intelligent approach using digital solutions within limited and reasonable budgets

It stated that systems operate through adaptive flow algorithms that select routes and alternative paths during congestion without human intervention. The study also found that the use of smart cameras on the Basir platform reduced the need for security personnel at each checkpoint by 60 percent, allowing them to be deployed as rapid response teams in emergencies and security crises.

I fully support this approach. I was among those advocating for it and worked on a related project — titled Rased — in collaboration with researchers at the Makkah Valley for Technology at Umm Al-Qura University in late February 2016, which was previously featured on the front page of Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.

According to figures from the Authority for Expenditure Efficiency and Government Projects, in its April 2026 report on digital transformation in Hajj, traditional manual labor costs an average of SR150 million ($39.5 million), while a digital solutions system requires only SR30 million. This results in savings of SR120 million, along with an 80-percent reduction in the field operations budget for each automated administrative unit.

The report also notes that technology costs are largely one-time investments, whereas staffing remains a recurring annual expense with limited long-term returns. It suggests redirecting savings toward sustainable infrastructure such as road cooling and electric buses.

In addition, a 2025 study by King Abdulaziz University in collaboration with the Hajj Research Institute found that Hajj operational costs — including accommodation, food, transportation, and staffing — could be reduced by up to 50 percent through automation. The study recommended replacing traditional supervisory roles with digital monitoring systems.

Another issue is heat stress. In 2024, the Canadian Journal of Sustainable Development reported that buses en route to Mina remain idling for hours to keep their air conditioning running, turning streets into “moving ovens” where crowds are forced to walk. This also requires significant fuel costs, along with the wages of thousands of drivers and technicians.

This would not occur if the fleet transitioned to smart, self-driving electric vehicles. The concept is expected to be introduced on a limited basis during the current Hajj, requiring only one systems engineer for every 50 drivers and technicians. Converting diesel bus parking areas into ground-level charging stations for electric buses to ensure continuous air conditioning could reduce heat stress in crowded areas by at least 40 percent.

This approach is known as “ground power electrification” and is already used at international airports and in major metropolitan areas.

In my view, pilgrim crowd management must shift from a heavy-handed approach and excessive deployment of personnel — which increases noise, overcrowding, and heat stress — to a more intelligent approach using digital solutions within limited and reasonable budgets.

This would ensure quieter, more professional management of the Hajj season, giving pilgrims the peace and tranquility needed to perform their rituals, while also achieving the required automation, rationalizing spending, and supporting green Hajj initiatives. I will not address pilgrims who violate regulations, as they are under security control. 

• Dr. Bader bin Saud is a columnist for Al-Riyadh newspaper, a researcher in media and knowledge management, a university professor and expert in crowd management and strategic planning, and the former deputy commander of the Special Forces for Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia. X: @BaderbinSaud