The Grand Mosque in Makkah is moving toward becoming one of the world's smartest sites by 2030, as digital systems sharply reduce waiting times and streamline services for millions of worshippers. According to the Saudi Press Agency, automation and integrated booking have cut typical pilgrim waiting times from around two hours three years ago to roughly nine minutes during the most recent Hajj season.

How the numbers changed

The figures were shared by Dr. Mohammed Al-Saqr, deputy CEO for Digital Transformation at the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. He said the authority's smart mobility platform has automated transit services and integrated electronic booking and payment, driving the drop in waiting times.

The gains extend beyond transport. Al-Saqr said administrative clearance times have fallen from eight days to about eight minutes, achieved through automation, integration with the national Ehsan charity platform and third-party oversight. The authority also reported that digital transformation has modernised the mosque's iftar meal operations, which distribute more than 38 million meals with transaction values approaching 500 million Saudi riyals.

A connected digital system

Officials describe an integrated network of platforms rather than a single app. The "Rafed" platform connects 18 government entities to address field reports, while an interactive digital mapping system handles roughly 600,000 cases each year, serving nearly 10 percent of the six million annual visitors as the authority expands smart technology across both holy mosques.

The Nusuk app, supervised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, remains the main gateway for organising pilgrimage services, allowing users to obtain Umrah and visit permits, manage travel details and review available services. Inside the mosque, a unified mobility platform lets visitors reserve carts for Tawaf and Sa'i electronically, easing access for the elderly and people with disabilities while improving the flow of movement.

Guidance, robots and crowd management

Smart signage and multilingual digital screens throughout the corridors and courtyards provide real-time guidance on routes, entrances and service locations. Multi-purpose robots offer guidance in several languages, and sanitisation robots help maintain public health inside the mosque. Authorities also use artificial intelligence and big data to monitor crowd movement, enabling teams to redirect visitors toward less crowded routes and improve safety in one of the world's most densely gathered spaces.

These efforts are supported by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites and Kidana Development Company, which are implementing projects to strengthen crowd management and the digital infrastructure of the holy sites.

Part of a wider modernisation

The digital push at the Grand Mosque sits within a broader effort to expand capacity and comfort at the holy sites under Vision 2030. Authorities have steadily grown the mosque's footprint and the capacity of the Mataf, the area for circling the Ka'bah, while layering technology on top of the physical expansion. The aim, officials say, is an integrated environment where transport, booking, payments, meal distribution and guidance work as connected parts of a single system rather than separate services.

What it means for pilgrims

For those planning Umrah or Hajj, the practical takeaway is that much of the journey now runs through digital channels, and preparation before arrival matters more than ever.

  • Install and set up Nusuk early. Obtain permits, appointments and service bookings through the official platform before you travel.
  • Book transport and services in advance. Electronic booking is central to the reduced waiting times, so reserve ahead rather than on arrival.
  • Reserve Tawaf and Sa'i carts online if you are travelling with elderly relatives or anyone with limited mobility.
  • Follow the smart signage. Use the digital screens and in-app maps to find less crowded routes and reach entrances and services efficiently.