The Grand Mosque in Makkah is moving steadily toward becoming one of the world's smartest sites by 2030, as digital systems reshape how millions of pilgrims move, pray and receive services, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The transformation is being led by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. Officials say automation and data integration have already produced measurable gains in speed, safety and service quality across both holy mosques.
Waiting times cut from hours to minutes
Dr. Mohammed Al-Saqr, the authority's deputy chief executive for digital transformation, said its smart mobility platform has automated transit services and combined electronic booking and payment in a single system. According to Al-Saqr, this reduced pilgrim waiting times from around two hours three years ago to roughly nine minutes during the most recent Hajj season.
The platform is part of a wider push to manage crowd movement digitally. An interactive digital mapping system now handles roughly 600,000 cases each year, serving nearly 10 percent of the six million people who visit the mosque annually. Smart wayfinding maps guide worshippers to suitable routes during congestion or temporary closures.
Faster clearances and large-scale meal operations
Digital transformation has also reached the Grand Mosque's meal services. The authority said its iftar operations distribute more than 38 million meals, with transaction values approaching 500 million Saudi riyals. Automating these operations, integrating them with the national Ehsan charity platform and adding third-party oversight cut administrative clearance times from about eight days to roughly eight minutes.
A platform known as "Rafed" connects 18 government entities to address field reports quickly. The authority said this coordination allows problems to be logged and resolved without the delays that once came from separate, paper-based processes.
The Nusuk platform at the center
Underpinning much of this work is the Nusuk app, supervised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which has become the main digital gateway for pilgrimage services. Many journeys now begin electronically, with users obtaining permits, scheduling appointments and accessing guidance on rituals before they arrive.
The authority said it will continue expanding smart technology across the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, framing the effort as part of Saudi Arabia's broader Vision 2030 goals for the two holy cities.
Practical notes for pilgrims
Pilgrims planning Umrah or Hajj should download and set up the Nusuk app well before travelling, since permits and appointments are increasingly issued through it. Keeping passport and visa details ready inside the app helps avoid delays. Those relying on digital maps and route guidance inside the mosque should ensure their phones are charged and, where possible, connected, so they can follow real-time directions during busy periods.