ISLAMABAD: Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said that the first phase of the “Smart Hajj” initiative helped in the movement, transportation, and safety of pilgrims during Hajj 2019.

Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat, deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah, and Dr. AbdulRahman Aljadhai, CEO of Elm Co., signed two MoUs to develop and operate the electronic platform for subsistence, health, and environment.

Dr. Mashat added that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MHU) is undergoing a digital transformation in cooperation with leading technology companies to promote the concept of using smart solutions to provide high-quality services for the pilgrims.

“It will contribute to improving and enriching pilgrims’ experience in the Kingdom as well as achieve one of the main goals of Saudi Vision 2030,” Dr. Mashat said during a press briefing at GITEX 2019.

“The MHU, in accordance with the instructions and guidance of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mohammad Salih Bentin, has made many strategic partnerships with the private sector to improve the quality of services and the development of ‘Smart Hajj’ solutions, including the signing of MoUs last year with SAP in the field of technology, digital infrastructure, cloud computing, geospatial cloud computing platforms, and smart cards to improve services,” he said.

Dr. Amr Al-Maddah, chief planning and strategy officer at the MHU, said: “Our Smart Hajj ensures that millions of pilgrims from around the world are transported quickly, easily and safely to religious sites on set schedules.”

The “Smart Hajj” initiative documents pilgrims using Internet, geospatial and camera analytics, along with data from the pilgrim experience mobile feedback platform in real-time.

The MHU is one of the participants of GITEX 2019, an annual technological event in Dubai and is showcasing its latest technologies in serving Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

Pakistani nationals usually constitute the third largest group – after Saudis and Indonesians – for the pilgrimage every year, with 200,000 traveling to the Kingdom this year.

In a bid to facilitate pilgrims from Pakistan, authorities at the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia added six new regional languages, including Urdu, for better communication.

In addition to Urdu, all lectures, speeches, and instructions will now be available in Pashto, Punjabi, and Balochi as well.