New e-services launched to aid Hajj and Umrah

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Hajj pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Hajj pilgrims arrive in Madinah. (SPA)
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Hajj pilgrims arrive in Madinah. (SPA)
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Islamic Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh. (Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance)
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Updated 19 June 2023
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New e-services launched to aid Hajj and Umrah

  • Services include a Sharia awareness app that educates pilgrims on Hajj rituals, and offers a translator if the pilgrim requires a language other than Arabic

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has introduced several electronic services to improve pilgrim experience and the tasks of ministry staff.

The services include a Sharia awareness app that educates pilgrims on Hajj rituals, and offers a translator if the pilgrim requires a language other than Arabic.

A “Rushd” application is designed to distribute reliable e-books and is integrated with an e-library.

The services include a new electronic transaction platform, reports management, and a “virtual workspace” for use by ministry staff.

Islamic Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh said: “The ministry aims to implement all digital transformation standards according to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”

The Hajj and Visit Committee say a total of 744,862 people have arrived in Madinah so far to perform this year’s pilgrimage. It said 587,845 of those were now traveling to or had arrived in Makkah.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Affairs Agency at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah is delivering services to visiting female pilgrims.

A series of training sessions have helped staff manage crowd flow, clarify regulations, and learn basic language skills to assist visitors.

The Presidency in Madinah has also launched a program titled “Comfort and Spirituality in the Prophet’s Mosque,” which welcomes pilgrims to the site.

Meanwhile, 14,000 Iraqi pilgrims at the Jdeidet Arar land crossing in the Northern Borders region were offered services by the Health Affairs department.

Furthermore, the Health Affairs department said that Jdeidet Arar Central Hospital has been upgraded to accommodate 50 beds, including six highly equipped intensive care beds. 

Additionally, an operating room and an emergency department have been set up. The hospital also houses ten outpatient clinics.


KSrelief’s 11th aid plane lands at Damascus airport

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KSrelief’s 11th aid plane lands at Damascus airport

  • KSrelief dispatched dozens of aid trucks and planes after collapse of Assad regime

RIYADH: The 11th Saudi relief plane landed at Damascus International Airport in on Wednesday as part of a humanitarian airlift launched by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre.

After the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime early in December, KSrelief has sent dozens of trucks and planes loaded with food, shelter, and medical supplies to meet the urgent basic needs of Syrians.


Experts discuss AI’s role in enhancing pilgrim experiences

Updated 4 min 4 sec ago
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Experts discuss AI’s role in enhancing pilgrim experiences

  • Discussions at Jeddah conference focus on crowd control, personalized services, sustainable solutions
  • Tamer Bdran, vice president of NEC Saudi Arabia Ltd., discussed the role of global technical solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hajj and Umrah

JEDDAH: Industry experts gathered to discuss how artificial intelligence can enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience for millions of pilgrims worldwide.

The discussions took place at the fourth Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, running until Jan. 16.

The event, themed “The Road to the Nusuk,” is hosted by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, featuring over 300 local and international organizations showcasing innovations to improve the pilgrim experience.

The conversation began with an overview of the current state of Hajj and Umrah, with speakers noting that only 5 percent of available technical capabilities have been utilized so far.

Mohammed Al-Hamid, director of the AI Center at the Ministry of Interior, shared in the session “Personalizing Services for the Guests of Allah: Data and Digital Solutions” that the ministry has made significant progress in data and AI infrastructure.

He added that the ministry has played a key role in transforming the Hajj and Umrah experience into a seamless journey driven by technological innovation.

Al-Hamid said that AI can help manage crowds by tracking movements, identifying potential hazards, and making real-time adjustments to traffic flow.

“We are using AI to develop long-term solutions that enhance the sustainability of Hajj services, including managing human density by analyzing crowd flow and predicting congestion, offering multilingual guidance, utilizing big data to anticipate pilgrims' needs, and efficiently distributing human and technical resources,” he added.

Speakers then expressed optimism about how AI could address the urgent need for faster and more effective services.

Abdulaziz Al-Matahami, deputy minister of planning and digital transformation at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the ministry first digitized traditional services, then moved to integrate government agencies to offer customized services for each pilgrim and Umrah performer.

He highlighted the new version of the Nusuk app, which provides comprehensive services such as hotel and flight reservations, historical tours, and permits for the Two Holy Mosques.

Al-Matahami also announced the launch of the Nusuk Business platform, aimed at enhancing integration with entrepreneurs to deliver innovative solutions for serving pilgrims.

In another session titled “Advanced Solutions and Technologies for Effective Crowd Management,” Fahad Al-Ghamdi, CEO of human resources at National Security Services Co., explained that the company operates as an integrated security system, offering consulting, risk analysis, and advanced technical solutions, such as mobile command and control centers with cameras supported by AI to analyze data in real time.

Tamer Bdran, vice president of NEC Saudi Arabia Ltd., discussed the role of global technical solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hajj and Umrah.

He said: “Technologies such as facial and fingerprint recognition, along with simulating crowd flow using supercomputing, have improved planning and reduced waiting times at ports and airports.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Spain Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin visited the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion at the conference. She was briefed on the ministry's efforts and initiatives to ensure a safe Hajj experience, including AI-enhanced security systems, digital solutions for crowd management at holy sites, the “No Hajj Without a Permit” campaign, and the Makkah Route initiative.


Saudi FM arrives in Thailand on official visit

Updated 42 min 13 sec ago
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Saudi FM arrives in Thailand on official visit

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Bangkok for an official visit to Thailand on Wednesday.

The prince is set to discuss the relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, leading the Kingdom’s delegation at the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council.


Saudi commission registers 3,202 new heritage sites

Updated 53 min 41 sec ago
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Saudi commission registers 3,202 new heritage sites

  • Newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha
  • Commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has registered 3,202 new sites in the National Urban Heritage Register, bringing the total to 28,202.

This reflects the richness of Saudi Arabia’s heritage and efforts to document and protect it, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha.

This registration follows the promulgation of the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Law; and a decision by the commission’s board of directors authorizing its CEO to register and protect heritage and archaeological sites.

The commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches.


Saudi FM discusses regional developments with Russian counterpart

Updated 24 min 26 sec ago
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Saudi FM discusses regional developments with Russian counterpart

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional developments and bilateral relations during a phone call with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday. 

The ministers discussed bilateral ties and regional developments, a statement on the Saudi foreign ministry account on platform “X”.