Saudi authorities are deploying aerial drones and artificial intelligence-powered analysis systems during Hajj this year to improve worshippers' experience, as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all around the world arrive in the Gulf country to perform the pilgrimage amid sweltering summer temperatures .
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on Monday announced it would be granting its first one-of-a-kind operational permit to Terra Drone Arabia, for drones to be used during this year’s pilgrimage to deliver necessities such as water and medicine.
It said that this step "is a continuation of the operational trials conducted during the previous Hajj season for the use of these drones in medical and logistical services".
GACA said that operations are conducted according to the "highest standards of safety, quality, and operational efficiency".
The aerial drone, for instance, will be able to reduce the time it takes for necessities to reach pilgrims from over an hour to just minutes.
Saudi authorities will also use such drones, as well as AI, fixed-wing aircraft, and advanced surveillance technologies to monitor crowds , prevent unauthorised entry into the Holy Sites in Mecca and Medina, and detect any irregularities, Saudi media said last week.
The drones will reportedly help detect crowd congestion quickly, making it easier for security officials to redirect pilgrims and prevent overcrowding.
The move comes amid a push by the Saudi government to integrate artificial intelligence and other technologies to better manage the Hajj experience and ensure worshippers' safety, amid frequent incidents over the years which has seen thousands of people die due to stampedes, overcrowding, and high temperatures .
Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism is launching a "smart accommodation" service, in a bid to enhance pilgrims’ hospitality experience and other services, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) .
The smart accommodation service will use AI and technologies related to the Internet of Things (IoT). Data gathered will enable the tracking of pilgrims' arrival times and monitor their accommodation experience, as well as detect ways to enhance it.
Hajj authorities are also deploying over 111,000 personnel to assist incoming pilgrims with water and fans to cool off from the heat. Meanwhile, the Monitoring and Control Center is tracking more than 95 performance indicators in coordination with 42 government agencies. The annual Hajj pilgrimage began in Saudi Arabia on Monday , drawing in an estimated 1.5 million worshippers from all corners of the globe.
The pilgrimage, which all able Muslims must perform at least once in their life, began under a cloud of uncertainty amid the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran and mixed signals over the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz, as well as a global energy crisis that has ensued as a consequence of the conflict.
Domestic worshippers, usually citizens and residents, are also expected to number in their tens and thousands.
Concerns have been raised annually regarding safety and management during the Hajj pilgrimage, given Saudi Arabia’s high temperatures and the number of those gathered. The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the largest mass gatherings of human beings in the world, drawing up to 2.5 million pilgrims annually.
Temperatures in Saudi Arabia can reach sweltering highs. The temperature in Mecca on Tuesday is expected to range between 42 and 47 degrees Celsius.