Hajj Initiatives in Saudi Arabia

Hajj Initiatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are a package of programs aimed at providing the opportunity for the largest number of Muslims to perform Hajj rituals in an easy and regulated journey.

Hajj initiatives operate on specific strategies according to a methodology that enhances Hajj services and economics, aiming to develop and grow the holy sites to meet the aspirations of pilgrims coming to perform it every year and to host the largest possible number of pilgrims. This is achieved by transforming Hajj services into a systematic and sustainable work system not tied to a specific season, by introducing global standards in transportation, housing, catering, and various logistical services.

Among the initiatives concerned with Hajj services in the Kingdom is the Electronic Control and Monitoring Center affiliated with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. It aims to connect centers specialized in pilgrims and Umrah performers service with decision-makers. It also seeks to increase the level of coordination among parties involved in Hajj services and to provide a digital dashboard for government agencies working in serving pilgrims. Additionally, there is the E-Track Initiative, which works on protecting pilgrims' rights, ensuring fairness in Hajj for those desiring it, accelerating and facilitating the mechanisms of electronic visas for Hajj, and adopting the principle of transparency in all transactions related to the Hajj ritual.

Efforts to support Hajj economies and cooperation with Tawafa establishments represent one of the dedicated Hajj initiatives to expand expected opportunities and establish major national entities, as well as transferring the culture of Hajj work from seasonal activities to year-round permanency. This is done in collaboration with private sector entities to ensure enhanced coordination and increased readiness. The Electronic Bracelet Project also constitutes a shift in the initiatives concerned with Hajj services, as it carries all information related to Hajj, from personal ID cards to the coordinates of residences in Makkah al-Mukarramah and the holy sites.

As a result of the various initiatives, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah coordinated with several sectors working in Hajj, including Tawafa establishments and the Coordinating Council of Arbab al-Tawaif Establishments, to advance Hajj services in line with Saudi Vision 2030, and to expand the scope of understanding with different countries participating in Hajj by signing seventy-eight Hajj agreements with Islamic countries and countries with Muslim minorities regarding pilgrims' affairs in terms of organization, awareness, and grouping.

In Hajj, initiatives related to the non-profit sectors emerge, including the pursuit to activate and amend possible legislation by activating or modifying a set of decisions aimed at improving performance in Hajj services, in addition to developing a strategy and governance for the non-profit sector, preparing a governance structure for the sector, as well as establishing incubators and accelerators for collaborative efforts by providing consultations and training, supporting technical and media work, and facilitating finance.

Enhancing pilgrims' rights is among the services provided by the entities concerned with Hajj, as they enjoy a set of rights that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah works to ensure they receive. These rights include qualifying institutions and companies capable of providing appropriate services to them, facilitating contracts with licensed companies under direct supervision that guarantees the rights of both parties, and taking necessary financial guarantees from service providers to ensure the execution of contract terms concluded between companies and pilgrims.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah receives pilgrims' comments and complaints and refers them to a specialized committee for investigation and issuing appropriate decisions. The ministry is committed to restoring the rights of pilgrims as determined by the committee concerned with violations, in addition to penalizing institutions and companies that fail to serve pilgrims by suspending them or fining them according to the type and magnitude of the violation. The ministry also represents pilgrims in Sharia trials in case service providers object to the compensation amount decided for pilgrims. The ministry delivers the compensation amount to pilgrims through approved official payment channels.

The voluntary initiative "Be Helpful" contributes to Hajj services, as it provides an opportunity for individuals wishing to serve the pilgrims to satisfy their desire and participate in various service fields provided in Makkah al-Mukarramah, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, and the holy sites.

Hajj initiatives in the Kingdom include the Hajj Banking Card issued by national banks to enable pilgrims to deposit funds into it, whether in their home countries or after arriving in the Kingdom, to ensure protecting pilgrims' money from loss, damage, and theft. The cards are used within the Mada network and points-of-sale in the Kingdom.

The infrastructure of the Internet of Things (IoT) Network is one of the initiatives assisting in Hajj plans, especially in grouping and monitoring crowded areas. It contains six dedicated transmission and reception stations and has 350 sensors in Mina and the Jamarat facility, in addition to 1,200 m of fiber-optic cables, aiming to collect and transmit data related to pedestrian routes and congestion locations.

In the field of digital technologies, the Smart Hajj Initiative represents a qualitative leap in electronic services relied upon by modern Hajj applications. Its services start from the electronic visa without the need to go to the Kingdom's embassies and consulates abroad. The initiative also includes the Smart Hajj Card containing pilgrims' information in personal, residential, and health fields, from which information is derived through specific smart devices operating via Near Field Communication (NFC) technologies. It contributes to several services, including access control to camps and their facilities, reducing unauthorized Hajj, and guiding lost pilgrims.

To facilitate the monitoring of pilgrim crowding and ease their movement, the initiative of the Grouping Monitoring and Crowd Management Center was launched to analyze data issued by cameras and the dedicated IoT network within the holy sites, aiming to make decisions and reach the fastest solutions through artificial intelligence technologies.