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The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque said the new digital service provides instant crowd density information for the Mataf and Masa’a areas of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Visitors can access the platform by scanning QR codes stationed throughout the site or by visiting the official Alharamain website directly. The authority noted that the tool supplies live updates to help pilgrims select optimal times and pathways for their rituals while easing overall congestion.
According to the authority’s announcement the service relies on simplified color indicators to convey current conditions across monitored zones without requiring complex interpretation. This approach allows worshippers to make informed decisions before beginning Tawaf around the Kaaba or Sa’i between Safa and Marwa. The authority added that the initiative builds on its ongoing commitment to improve the pilgrimage experience through technology.
The General Authority for Statistics reported that more than 15 million people performed Umrah during the first quarter of 2025 with external visitors accounting for a substantial share of the total. A later GASTAT release placed the number of Hajj pilgrims for 2026 at 1.7 million underscoring the continuous high demand on holy sites. The authority has positioned the monitoring service as a practical response to these sustained visitor levels.
The authority’s platform tracks density at multiple elevations including roof-level first-floor ground-floor and Kaaba-level sections of both the Mataf and Masa’a. Color codes differentiate between low moderate and high crowd concentrations at any given time according to the authority. Updates carry precise timestamps to ensure users receive the most recent readings available.
In its announcement the authority described the system as part of a wider array of digital resources developed for the Two Holy Mosques in recent years. These complementary tools have assisted in streamlining visitor flows and supporting safe access for millions of worshippers annually. The authority continues to refine such solutions in keeping with its mandate to facilitate worship at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
