Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is keen on making use of technological initiatives and finding ways to simplify procedures as it vies to improve the services provided to the one million Hajj pilgrims making their holy journey this year.
The aim is to facilitate Hajj applications of citizens and residents living in the Kingdom, as well as developing Hajj guides to help make performing their rituals easier.
The Ministry has developed many applications and services to this end. Three of them have been extremely prominent this year.
First is the smart Hajj identification card with one of four colors, each of which is linked to particular services, programs, and modes of transportation.
The card has pilgrims’ personal, medical and residential information, which helps guide them to their place of residence in the holy sites and facilitates monitoring access to these sites and various facilities. It also helps curb illegal pilgrimages.
The Kingdom has also launched an app called Smart Pilgrim to make information on rituals’ schedules more easily accessible and raise awareness. It also facilitates access to information about services and enables pilgrims to directly communicate with the companies they made their journeys with.
Another application was developed for organizers. It allows Arbab Al Taifa companies to update their information about pilgrims: their places of residence, and their accommodation in the holy sites, allowing for constant updates and monitoring of the quality of the services provided.
The Makkah Road Initiative, which is part of Vision 2030’s program to facilitate pilgrims’ journeys and improve the services provided to them, is also at the forefront of the Kingdom’s efforts.
The initiative is limited to five countries (Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Morocco, and Bangladesh) at the moment. It helps pilgrims finalize their procedures in their home countries.
Visas are issued electronically, all the vital information is taken, and passport procedures are completed at the airport of the country of departure after verification. It makes sorting luggage and housing arrangements in the Kingdom easier.
Meanwhile, registration from Europe, the US, and Australia was facilitated this year through an online portal that allows applicants to choose from an array of options for their pilgrimage. It also provides support round the clock for applicants with inquiries and grants them the option of getting an electronic visa.
