Hajj and Umrah Ministry expands AI use to enhance pilgrim services

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is utilizing artificial intelligence and data analytics to enhance services for pilgrims, transforming data into insights and forecasts that support planning and decision-making. This includes providing smart solutions, managing crowd movement and grouping, and facilitating the pilgrim experience, in line with the leadership’s commitment to serving pilgrims and the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program.

The ministry is maximizing the strategic value of data through advanced analytics, AI technologies, and pattern recognition. It conducts studies on Hajj and Umrah trends, pilgrim behaviors and preferences, and supply and demand. Predictive analytics are also used to forecast arrival and departure times, lengths of stay, and related trends, supporting early planning and informed decision-making.

Operationally, the ministry employs advanced algorithms to manage pilgrim movement and grouping, analyze crowd flows, and predict peak times. It also analyzes bus movements and optimizes transport routes between holy sites, improving mobility efficiency and supporting operational decisions during the season.

For direct pilgrim services, the "Nusuk AI" service is an AI-powered solution that provides information and guidance on Hajj, Umrah, and visits, answering inquiries in more than 180 languages and offering voice interaction. Since its launch, over two million users have benefited, including 393,000 in the past month alone.

The ministry also offers the "Digital Mutawwif" service via the Nusuk app, acting as a smart companion for pilgrims during rituals. It uses spatial AI to understand the pilgrim’s location, movement, and journey context in real time, guiding them to optimal routes and floors, automatically counting Tawaf and Sa’i rounds, and displaying relevant instructions and prayers for each stage. The service recorded over two million uses in one month, with more than 1.4 million users completing Tawaf and Sa’i digitally.

Recently, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah received the "AI Ethics Mark" from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) for the Nusuk AI service, affirming its commitment to responsible and reliable use of smart technologies. The ministry continues to leverage AI to develop services and support decision-making, building a smarter and more proactive experience for pilgrims.