Security forces utilize AI to manage Hajj pilgrimage

Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — Security forces have implemented artificial intelligence technologies at the Command and Control Center to facilitate the movement of pilgrims to Arafat.

The center employs these technologies through approximately 8,000 cameras in the central area, the holy city of Makkah, and the sacred sites.

These cameras are distributed across more than 500 locations for real-time monitoring aimed at maintaining security, managing crowds, and controlling traffic and emergency plans during the Hajj season.

The Command and Control Center is the heart of the Hajj security forces’ plans, which have been prepared well in advance to reach advanced levels of readiness to serve the guests of Allah. Simultaneously, security efforts continue concerning the influx of pilgrims through security checkpoints and roads leading to the holy city.

The center is equipped with the latest technologies and operates around the clock in coordination with forces on the ground. It is directly linked with security sectors to distribute tasks, provide real-time and immediate monitoring of pilgrim crowds, and implement security plans fully. Additionally, it connects with the Security Operations Center in the Grand Mosque and the Unified Operations Center 911.

The center operates with advanced technologies and the latest AI applications, adhering to the highest global standards to enhance the quality of work. These developments are a collaboration between the General Security and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to support the security and organizational missions of the Hajj security forces in Makkah and the holy sites, providing necessary data and information to serve the pilgrims and facilitate their rituals smoothly and easily.

The center is distinguished by its modern technological capabilities, including three AI-powered platforms developed in coordination with SDAIA: “Baseer,” “Sawaher,” and the “General Security and Advanced Analytics” platform. These platforms are crucial enablers that assist decision-makers in making timely decisions.