The Religious Affairs Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has expanded its technology services for pilgrims during the Umrah season, deploying artificial intelligence and digital solutions to deliver guidance and awareness content in multiple languages, according to an official announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The initiative marks a further step in the Kingdom’s efforts to harness advanced technology in service of the millions of worshippers who visit the Two Holy Mosques each year.
Context and Background
The Religious Affairs Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque is the government body responsible for overseeing religious guidance, awareness programs, and scholarly content at Islam’s two holiest sites in Makkah and Madinah. As Umrah seasons have grown in scale, the Presidency has progressively turned to digital tools to manage the flow of information and ensure that every pilgrim can access reliable religious guidance quickly and comfortably.
The latest expansion reflects a broader national direction toward digital transformation across public services, in which artificial intelligence is increasingly applied to improve accessibility, language coverage, and response times. For the Two Holy Mosques, where visitors arrive from virtually every country in the world, multilingual and always-available guidance carries particular importance.
Key Details of the Technology Deployment
Central to the new service package is a smart robot that the Presidency has tasked with supporting worshippers directly. According to the official information, the robot provides interactive services that include guidance and direction, introductions to locations and facilities within the holy sites, and the delivery of religious content. It also offers instant translation in several languages, enabling pilgrims of different nationalities to obtain accurate religious information without delay.
The Presidency stated that these tools are designed to keep pace with the growing numbers of visitors to the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque during the Umrah season, and to strengthen communication between the Presidency and the pilgrims it serves. The deployment forms part of wider efforts to develop a digital religious work system at the Two Holy Mosques, raising the efficiency of services and enriching the spiritual and knowledge experience of worshippers.
Implications for Pilgrims and the Broader Region
For international pilgrims, the practical effect is a shorter path between a question and a trustworthy answer. Language barriers, which can be a significant source of confusion for first-time visitors, are addressed through real-time translation, while location and facility guidance helps worshippers navigate vast and crowded spaces with greater confidence. The availability of religious content in an interactive format also supports the Presidency’s educational mission, allowing pilgrims to deepen their understanding of their rites.
The initiative carries broader significance for the region as well. Saudi Arabia hosts one of the world’s largest recurring movements of people, and the technologies trialed at the Two Holy Mosques often serve as reference models for how AI-driven services can be delivered at scale, in high-density environments, and in many languages simultaneously. The experience gained during the Umrah season contributes to the Kingdom’s growing expertise in pilgrimage management technology.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The deployment of artificial intelligence at the Two Holy Mosques aligns directly with Saudi Vision 2030, the national transformation program that emphasizes digital government, innovation, and an elevated quality of life for citizens and visitors alike. By enhancing the experience of the millions who perform Umrah each year, the Presidency supports the Vision’s goal of enabling ever greater numbers of pilgrims to complete their spiritual journey with comfort and dignity, while showcasing Saudi Arabia’s capacity to apply advanced technology in the service of faith and humanity.
20 Questions
Q1. Which Saudi body expanded its technology services for pilgrims during the Umrah season?
A1. The Religious Affairs Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque expanded its technical services, employing artificial intelligence and digital solutions to provide awareness and guidance content to worshippers in multiple languages.
Q2. What technologies did the Presidency employ to serve pilgrims?
A2. The Presidency employed artificial intelligence technologies and interactive digital solutions, including a smart robot, to provide guidance, religious content, location information, and instant translation services to visitors of the Two Holy Mosques.
Q3. What services does the smart robot provide to worshippers?
A3. The smart robot offers interactive services including guidance and direction, introductions to sites and services, delivery of religious content, and instant translation in several languages to serve pilgrims of different nationalities.
Q4. Why is instant translation important for pilgrims at the Two Holy Mosques?
A4. Instant translation helps pilgrims from many different nationalities understand religious guidance quickly and accurately, removing language barriers and enabling faster access to reliable information during their visit.
Q5. What is the main goal of these digital services?
A5. The services aim to make it easier for pilgrims and visitors to access information and services in multiple languages, while raising the efficiency of religious services and enriching the spiritual experience of worshippers.
Q6. Which two mosques does the Presidency oversee?
A6. The Presidency oversees religious affairs at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Islam’s two holiest sites, which receive millions of worshippers throughout the year.
Q7. When was the announcement reported?
A7. The announcement was carried by the Saudi Press Agency and dated 27 Safar 1448 AH, corresponding to 10 August 2026, during the ongoing Umrah season at the Two Holy Mosques.
Q8. How do these services support pilgrims who do not speak Arabic?
A8. Multilingual guidance and instant translation allow non-Arabic speakers to receive religious information and directions in their own language, ensuring they can complete their rituals correctly and confidently.
Q9. What role does artificial intelligence play in these services?
A9. Artificial intelligence powers interactive systems that respond to pilgrim inquiries, deliver religious content, and translate across languages, improving response speed and service efficiency at the holy sites.
Q10. How do the new services handle the growing number of Umrah pilgrims?
A10. The Presidency stated that the digital tools keep pace with rising visitor numbers during the Umrah season, allowing services to be delivered efficiently to large crowds without compromising quality or accuracy.
Q11. What kind of religious content is provided through these tools?
A11. The smart robot and digital systems provide verified religious guidance and awareness content, helping pilgrims understand the rites of Umrah and access trustworthy information from official sources.
Q12. How do the services help pilgrims find locations within the holy sites?
A12. The robot offers guidance and direction and introduces worshippers to the various sites and facilities, helping them navigate the large and crowded spaces of the Two Holy Mosques with greater ease.
Q13. What does the Presidency hope to achieve by developing digital religious work?
A13. The Presidency aims to raise the efficiency of its services, enhance communication with pilgrims, and enrich their religious and knowledge experience through advanced technology and interactive systems.
Q14. What does this initiative reflect about Saudi Arabia’s approach to public services?
A14. It reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to digital transformation, applying modern technology such as artificial intelligence to improve service quality and accessibility for millions of visitors every year.
A14. It reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to digital transformation, applying modern technology such as artificial intelligence to improve service quality and accessibility for millions of visitors every year.
Q15. Why is multilingual service important at the Two Holy Mosques?
A15. Pilgrims arrive from virtually every country, so multilingual services ensure that worshippers of all backgrounds can understand guidance, follow rituals correctly, and feel welcomed during their spiritual journey.
Q16. How does this initiative enhance communication with pilgrims?
A16. Interactive tools provide immediate responses to questions, offer content in multiple languages, and reduce waiting times, allowing the Presidency to engage more directly and effectively with worshippers.
Q17. What does the deployment of smart robots indicate about religious services?
A17. It shows that religious and awareness services are being modernized through technology, combining traditional religious guidance with digital innovation to serve pilgrims more effectively and efficiently.
Q18. How does the initiative benefit first-time visitors to the holy sites?
A18. First-time visitors benefit from clear direction, location guidance, and translated religious content, which reduces confusion and helps them perform their rites with confidence and comfort.
Q19. In what ways does the initiative support Saudi Vision 2030?
A19. The initiative supports Vision 2030 by advancing digital government, promoting innovation, and improving quality of life for the millions of pilgrims who visit the Kingdom each year.
Q20. What future developments might follow this technology deployment?
A20. The Presidency will likely continue expanding artificial intelligence and interactive systems at the Two Holy Mosques, building on this experience to further improve services for the growing numbers of pilgrims and visitors.
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