Worshippers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah can now check how crowded the Mataf and Masaa are before they arrive, thanks to a new real-time crowd-tracking service launched by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. Accessible through a QR code, the platform gives pilgrims live congestion data so they can time their Tawaf and Sai for quieter periods.
The service was announced on July 20, 2026, and forms part of a wider push by Saudi authorities to use technology to smooth pilgrim movement at Islam's holiest sites. According to the authority, the tool combines live crowd-density indicators with instant updates and smart route guidance.
How the crowd tracker works
Pilgrims scan a QR code to open the platform, which then displays continuously updated information on how busy two key areas are. The first is the Mataf, the open marble area immediately around the Ka'bah where pilgrims perform Tawaf, circling the Ka'bah seven times. The second is the Masaa, the corridor between the hills of Safa and Marwah where pilgrims perform Sai, walking back and forth seven times.
By checking the readings before entering, worshippers can choose a less congested route or wait for a calmer window. The authority said the system is designed to support crowd management while improving the experience of those performing their rituals. In practical terms, it means a pilgrim standing in the courtyard can decide whether to begin Tawaf immediately or pause for a short while until density eases.
The Grand Mosque draws enormous numbers year round. During peak Umrah periods and around Hajj, the Mataf can hold tens of thousands of worshippers at once. Giving pilgrims a clear picture of conditions before they step into these areas is intended to reduce bottlenecks and help people move more safely.
Part of a broader digital effort
The Makkah service follows a similar tool introduced for the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. In June 2026, the same authority launched the Salam path tracker, which shows real-time occupancy along the Salam path using a simple colour-coded system. Green signals light occupancy, yellow indicates moderate activity and red marks high crowd levels. Visitors use it to plan their arrival and pick a suitable entry time.
Both services reflect a strategy of moving crowd information out to pilgrims before they reach the site, rather than leaving them to judge congestion only once they are inside. Saudi authorities have also expanded digital capacity boards at the Holy Mosques and built real-time crowd maps into the official Nusuk app, which uses site sensors and data analysis to suggest better routes.
Together these tools point to a model of pilgrim management that relies on live data and guidance instead of physical barriers alone. The aim is to keep the flow of worshippers steady during the busiest hours, when large numbers converge on the Mataf and Masaa at the same time.
What it means for pilgrims
For anyone planning Umrah or a visit to Makkah, the new tracker is a simple, free tool that can make the rituals easier to complete. Pilgrims do not need a special app to use it, only the ability to scan a QR code on site.
A few practical points are worth keeping in mind. Check the crowd reading before you begin Tawaf or Sai, and be willing to wait a short time if levels are high, particularly after the five daily prayers when the mosque is fullest. The hours immediately following Fajr and late at night are often calmer for both rituals. Elderly pilgrims, those with young children and anyone who tires easily may find these quieter windows far more comfortable.
Remember, too, that the tool supports the rituals but does not change them. Tawaf still consists of seven complete circuits of the Ka'bah, and Sai of seven lengths between Safa and Marwah. The tracker simply helps pilgrims choose when to perform them. Pilgrims should still follow the directions of on-site staff and security personnel, who manage movement in real time and may open or close routes as conditions change.
As Saudi Arabia continues to modernise services across the two Holy Mosques, tools like this are likely to become a routine part of the pilgrim experience, giving worshippers more information and more control over how and when they perform their rites.