Cameras predict unusual crowd movements or potential disruptions
Mecca: Saudi authorities have started using advanced technology to protect millions of pilgrims and control crowds during Hajj 2025, including artificial intelligence (AI), drones and more than 15,000 cameras.
According to officials, cameras installed in Mecca and its surroundings predict unusual crowd movements or potential obstacles, so that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a timely manner.
According to Muhammad Nazir, CEO of the General Transport Center, “Our control room is using special cameras equipped with AI that analyze crowded areas and movements.”
This year, about 1.4 million pilgrims have arrived in Mecca from all over the world, for whom more than 20,000 buses have also been deployed to guide and protect them.
The central control room in Mecca has multiple screens and maps, which are constantly monitored by expert staff to avoid collisions between traffic, rush and pedestrians.
This modern system was introduced after the horrific tragedy of 2015, when nearly 2,300 people died in a stampede during the Jamarat ritual.
