MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to develop services for pilgrims and Umrah performers. The ministry uses data to generate insights and forecasts that support planning and decision-making.
The Hajj and Umrah Ministry also provides smart solutions to manage crowd movement and pilgrim flows, helping facilitate their journeys and improve their experience, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
These efforts align with the Kingdom leadership’s commitment to serving pilgrims and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program (PEP).
The ministry works to maximise the strategic value of data through advanced analytics, AI, and pattern recognition. It conducts studies on Hajj and Umrah trends, pilgrims’ and Umrah performers’ behaviours and preferences, and supply and demand.
Predictive analytics are also used to forecast arrival and departure dates, lengths of stay, and related trends, supporting planning and early preparedness, according to SPA.
Operationally, the ministry uses advanced algorithms to analyse and manage crowd flows and predict peak periods. It also analyses bus movements and optimises transport routes between the holy sites, improving the efficiency of movement and transport and supporting operational decision-making during the season.
For services provided directly to pilgrims and Umrah performers, “Nusuk AI” offers information and guidance on Hajj, Umrah, and visits, answers inquiries, supports more than 180 languages, and offers voice interaction. Since its launch, the service has been used by more than two million users, including 393,000 in the past month alone.
The ministry also provides the “Digital Mutawwif” service through the Nusuk app. The AI-powered companion assists pilgrims during the performance of their rituals, using spatial AI to understand their location, movement, and journey context in real time. It guides them to suitable routes and floors and automatically counts the circuits of Tawaf and Sai.
The service also provides relevant guidance and supplications at each stage. It recorded more than two million uses in one month by more than 1.4 million beneficiaries.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recently received the “AI Ethics Seal” from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) for the Nusuk AI service.
The recognition reflects the ministry’s commitment to the responsible and reliable use of smart technologies and its efforts to use AI to develop services and support decision-making, contributing to a smarter and more proactive experience for pilgrims and Umrah performers.
