Saudi authorities have set a goal of making the Grand Mosque in Makkah one of the world's smartest sites by 2030, saying digital systems are already reshaping the way services are delivered to pilgrims and visitors. According to the Saudi Press Agency, automation has sharply cut waiting times and streamlined operations across Islam's holiest site.
The announcement came from Dr Mohammed Al-Saqr, Deputy CEO for Digital Transformation at the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. He said the technology-led shift is changing work models and raising service efficiency across the Two Holy Mosques, which together receive millions of worshippers each year for Hajj, Umrah and daily prayer.
Shorter waits and automated services
One of the flagship projects is the Mobility Platform, which has automated transportation procedures and linked them with relevant entities and platforms. The system also offers electronic booking and payment services for pilgrims, replacing manual steps that once created long queues at busy times.
The results, according to the authority, have been significant. Average waiting times have fallen from around two hours three years ago to about nine minutes, based on measurements taken during the 2026 Hajj season. Officials say the reduction reflects a wider effort to remove bottlenecks that once slowed movement around the mosque during peak periods, when hundreds of thousands of people converge on the same spaces.
Technology has also transformed the mosque's iftar meal operation, one of the largest of its kind in the Muslim world. The system distributes more than 38 million meals during the year, handling transactions approaching half a billion Saudi riyals. Al-Saqr said automation reduced the procedures cycle for the operation from around eight days to approximately eight minutes, a change that speeds up how meals are authorised, tracked and delivered inside the mosque.
Governance and oversight
Beyond speed, the authority says the new systems have strengthened governance and transparency. Al-Saqr pointed to the separation of roles, automated processes, integration with the Ihsan charitable platform and third-party oversight as safeguards built into the digital model. The design is intended to reduce errors and limit opportunities for misuse as the volume of transactions grows.
Another system, the Rafed platform, links 18 government systems and entities to handle reports concerning the Two Holy Mosques. An interactive map processes around 600,000 cases each year, equivalent to roughly 10 per cent of the Grand Mosque's estimated six million annual visitors. By connecting agencies through a single platform, the authority says issues can be logged, routed and resolved more quickly than when handled separately.
Al-Saqr said authorities would continue using smart technologies to anticipate future needs and develop services, supporting the broader goal of ranking the Grand Mosque among the world's smartest places before 2030. The drive aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and its Pilgrim Experience Program, which aim to expand capacity while improving the quality of the journey for those performing the rites.
Part of a wider modernisation
The digital push at the Grand Mosque sits alongside other changes reported across the pilgrimage system, including the growing role of the Nusuk platform for bookings and permits and the expansion of online Umrah services. Taken together, these steps point to a pilgrimage experience that is increasingly managed through official apps and websites from the moment a journey is planned.
What it means for pilgrims
For pilgrims planning Umrah or Hajj, the changes point to a growing reliance on digital tools before and during the journey. Booking, payment and transport are increasingly handled through official platforms rather than in person, which can reduce delays but also requires preparation.
Pilgrims are advised to set up and verify their accounts on official Saudi platforms, including Nusuk, well before travelling. Keeping a charged phone, saved digital permits and offline copies of key documents can help when connectivity is poor near the mosque. Travellers should rely only on official government applications and websites for bookings and payments, and treat unsolicited links or third-party offers with caution. Arriving with these arrangements in place allows worshippers to spend less time on logistics and more time in worship.