The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has decided to rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology (IT) to safeguard the pilgrims going on Hajj during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Saudi ministry will use robots, interactive screens, and quality tech solutions for this purpose. It will aid in limiting contact between individuals during the rituals.

Right from the very start, people can use online portals for receiving and accepting Hajj applications. Digitalization will help pilgrims register themselves without any hassle. It will also reduce the contact points of pilgrims before visiting the city of Makkah for pilgrimage. The Islamic electronic library will also install 30 interactive screens for offering needful assistance.

People going on Hajj in 2021 will receive smart cards. They will record personal and health-related information on pilgrims and grant access to hotels, camps, and transport services. The smart cards will also facilitate payment allowing the ministry to keep an eye on the crowded locations in Makkah.

Morocco World News reported that this year the ministry would allow 60,000 pilgrims to go on Hajj. As part of the stringent measures, the location of each pilgrim will be closely monitored with the help of AI robots. They will aid in regularly sterilizing and disinfecting the buildings and surrounding areas of holiest Muslim sites. Deployment of robots with interactive abilities to offer help and guidance to pilgrims will also take place. They will also respond to people’s queries regarding the rituals.

As part of the precautionary measures, the ministry of Saudi Arabia has decided to give pilgrims free access to Wi-Fi. They have also set up a tech-reinforced security gate at Makkah’s Shimisi entrance. It will vet and inspect pilgrims from over 16 different tracks. The entrance gate will significantly reduce the waiting time for visitors even during busy hours. As such, the pilgrims will be able to complete their journey in a seamless and smooth manner.

The AI robots deployed at the well will hand out the holy Zamzam water to avoid physical contact between individuals. The authorities have also decided to put on 62 screens in Makkah to make people aware of the dos and don’ts during the pilgrimage. Broadcasting of messages in different languages on these displays to promote easy understanding will take place.

Besides, a host of applications and programs are set up by the relevant authorities to ensure a safe and hassle-free Hajj and Umrah trip to Makkah. Asharq Al-Awsat has reported that the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh inaugurated operational and maintenance projects with the total cost amounting to more than SAR 31 million. These projects intend to establish coordination between several agencies to provide the highest standards of service.

The pilgrimage of Hajj is an important Islamic tradition that every abled Muslim has to make at least once in his/her lifetime. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this tradition was brought to a halt. However, with the Covid-19 cases going down, Saudi Arabia has decided to allow some vaccinated pilgrims to undergo the journey. The well-intended AI and tech solutions for safe Hajj are an effort on the part of Saudi Arabia to safeguard the people arriving for the pilgrimage.

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Pilgrims visit Makkah to perform the pilgrimage any time during the year, which is called ‘Umrah.’ Whereas ‘Hajj’ takes place on fixed dates according to the Islamic calendar once a year. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Umrah pilgrimage was performed by almost 19 million pilgrims annually. For ‘Hajj’, around 2.5 million Muslims used to visit Makkah. But, in 2021, only 60,000 vaccinated Saudi citizens were permitted to perform the Hajj due to the adverse effect of the pandemic. According to the sources, only 1000 people performed the holy Hajj. The pilgrimage was opened only for the residents of Saudi Arabia.

Considering the gravity of the COVID-19 outbreak, both the ‘Umrah’ and ‘Hajj’ seemed impossible, however, Saudi Arabia handled the pandemic as well as pilgrimage amidst the pandemic quite efficiently. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had less mortality rates as compared to many other nations and also managed minimal social disruption. Meticulous management by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah made it possible for Muslims to undertake the pilgrimage and took maximum precaution to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

COVID-19 Impact on Umrah : How the pandemic affected the pilgrimage in Makkah?

Hajj is believed as a way to wash your sins and get the mercy of Almighty Allah. It is also believed to unite the Muslims community. During Hajj and Umrah, Muslims are supposed to recite and perform prayers together, sit and eat together, and celebrate it with unity. Instead, the pandemic led to social distancing, which could not make it possible for people to come together for the pilgrimage. The pandemic led to the bifurcation of people into queues to avoid the overcrowding that existed before the pandemic. The number of people allowed at one time in the mosque was reduced to a very few ensuring that the social distancing is being followed. Additionally, face masks became mandatory for the visitors, and the people not wearing them had to bear the penalties. Police officers were on duty to note this and ensure that the guidelines were being followed.

The iftar meal (served when breaking the daylong fast) was also served in nicely sealed packages unlike previous years when pilgrims sat in lines to enjoy iftar together. The food was prepared with extreme hygiene and wellness. Moreover, the Zamzam water, considered holy water, was earlier collected from various watering points and made available in water bottles, while following social distancing and the government norms.

Suggested Read: The Grand Mosque To Drop Social Distancing For Pilgrims

Primarily, the authorities used to ask the foreign pilgrims for a negative RT-PCR test report which should be taken within 48 hours before arriving in Saudi Arabia. In addition, they are also supposed to be quarantined at a government-approved hotel for 6 days or can again take a RT-PCR test after 2 days of quarantine, and if the report is negative, they can leave the hotel.

The pilgrims who want to get entry in Haram, the Grand Mosque of Makkah, have to bring their vaccination certificates and show them in advance.

A university lecturer in Saudi Arabia, Egyptian pilgrim Aly Aboulnaga said, “I hope this is a successful hajj season. We ask God to accept everyone’s hajj and for the area to be open to greater numbers of pilgrims and for a return to an even better situation than before.”

With the advent of technology, mobile apps are also helping in tracking the updates of COVID-19 personal stats. Many apps can be used to keep your vaccination certificate, to track and warn if anyone affected with coronavirus is near you. If you want to gather for a social event, an app will give you the permit for the gathering. The app will also trace the positive people if present at the party.

There is another mobile app specially designed for people who want to enter Haram, named Eatmarna. The app helps pilgrims to book a time slot for granting access to the Grand Mosque. It was created by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to ensure public safety and to avoid overcrowding.

Though it still can’t be predicted when the pandemic will end, the COVID-19 impact on Umrah and Hajj will be completely relaxed in the coming months, and Makkah will start hosting pilgrims from different areas of the globe. As per the reports, the new variants of COVID-19 are also approaching. Hence, following the guidelines and restrictions are important and mandatory for the betterment of the visitors.

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