With AI and more shade, KSA set for a searing Hajj
With artificial intelligence, more shade and misting machines, Saudi authorities are preparing to welcome more than a million Hajj pilgrims amid punishing summer heat.
Saudi Arabia's Hajj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP on Thursday that efforts to mitigate the searing desert heat remained a top focus among authorities and organisers ahead of this year's pilgrimage.
"One of the big challenges that we always face is the increasing temperature across the different years and this is an issue that we give top priority," he told AFP during an exclusive interview in Riyadh.
The issue is all the more pressing as officials work to prevent a repeat of last year's Hajj, which saw more than 1,300 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.24 degrees Fahrenheit).
This year, Rabiah said authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials and doubled their efforts to mitigate heat-related risks.
Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square metres (12 acres), thousands more medics will be on hand, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed for the duration of the hajj, he added.
Such efforts build on the work of previous years that have seen renovations to areas around the Grand Mosque and asphalt areas covered with a special layer to help reduce surface temperatures.
"These new changes will definitely ensure the safety and the better experience of pilgrims when they perform their Hajj," said Rabiah.
He said this week that more than a million people from across the globe had already arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, with more still pouring in.
The latest artificial intelligence software will help monitor the deluge of information and footage, including video from a new fleet of drones, from across Makkah.
"We use advanced AI technologies to do this monitoring and get fast feedback," the minister said.
Crowd management has proved perilous in the past, notably in 2015 when a stampede caused about 2,300 deaths.
Along with expanding infrastructure and deploying more personnel, Saudi officials have been cracking down to prevent pilgrims without the right paperwork from entering Makkah.
Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota system and distributed to individuals by lottery. AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Karachi braves very hot weather
KARACHI: The megacity's residents endured a sweltering Friday as temperatures soared to 39 degrees Celsius accompanied by 60 percent humidity, making for an oppressive and stifling atmosphere across Karachi. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the weather remained hot to very hot and dry across most parts of the province, with gusty winds observed in southern and eastern districts. Despite the challenging conditions, intermittent winds from the west and southwest offered brief spells of relief for the public battling the heat and humidity throughout the day. The PMD reported a morning humidity level of 67 percent, adding to the discomfort. The evening brought only slight respite with levels ranging between 35 percent and 45 percent. The minimum temperature in Karachi was recorded at 30 degrees Celsius. The weekend outlook suggests continued hot and humid weather with maximum temperatures forecasted between 37 degrees Celsius and 39 degrees Celsius on Saturday and Sunday. Winds are expected to persist from the west and southwest directions, which could provide slight relief. Authorities have urged citizens to remain hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours, and check on vulnerable individuals including the elderly and children. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
With AI and more shade, KSA set for a searing Hajj
With artificial intelligence, more shade and misting machines, Saudi authorities are preparing to welcome more than a million Hajj pilgrims amid punishing summer heat. Saudi Arabia's Hajj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP on Thursday that efforts to mitigate the searing desert heat remained a top focus among authorities and organisers ahead of this year's pilgrimage. "One of the big challenges that we always face is the increasing temperature across the different years and this is an issue that we give top priority," he told AFP during an exclusive interview in Riyadh. The issue is all the more pressing as officials work to prevent a repeat of last year's Hajj, which saw more than 1,300 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.24 degrees Fahrenheit). This year, Rabiah said authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials and doubled their efforts to mitigate heat-related risks. Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square metres (12 acres), thousands more medics will be on hand, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed for the duration of the hajj, he added. Such efforts build on the work of previous years that have seen renovations to areas around the Grand Mosque and asphalt areas covered with a special layer to help reduce surface temperatures. "These new changes will definitely ensure the safety and the better experience of pilgrims when they perform their Hajj," said Rabiah. He said this week that more than a million people from across the globe had already arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, with more still pouring in. The latest artificial intelligence software will help monitor the deluge of information and footage, including video from a new fleet of drones, from across Makkah. "We use advanced AI technologies to do this monitoring and get fast feedback," the minister said. Crowd management has proved perilous in the past, notably in 2015 when a stampede caused about 2,300 deaths. Along with expanding infrastructure and deploying more personnel, Saudi officials have been cracking down to prevent pilgrims without the right paperwork from entering Makkah. Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota system and distributed to individuals by lottery. AFP
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Authorities on alert for heatwave, downpour
Amid a dual threat of extreme heat and an early onset of heavy monsoon rainfall, with temperatures soaring to nearly 50 degrees Celsius and reports of deaths and injuries in rain-related incidents, authorities have issued multiple advisories, calling for emergency preparedness across several regions. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a five-day heatwave alert for Punjab, placing the province under heightened surveillance as temperatures rise across several districts. Alongside the heatwave, officials have also warned of the risk of widespread flooding during the upcoming rain. Southern Punjab remains under a "Heatwave Emergency", with cities including Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and Multan experiencing severe heatwave. Central Punjab — comprising Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad and Jhang — has been issued a "Hot Day Warning". Meanwhile, Lahore, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura in the northeast are under a "Hot Day Alert", with prolonged exposure to high temperatures continuing to affect residents. In its latest daily update, the PMD confirmed that several cities recorded temperatures as high as 48 degrees Celsius in the past 24 hours, including Mohenjo-Daro, Jacobabad and Shaheed Benazirabad in Sindh, and Sibi in Balochistan. It said that Dera Ghazi Khan in southern Punjab, Dadu and Larkana in Sindh and Turbat in Balochistan followed closely at 47 degrees. "A persistent high-pressure system has fuelled the extremely dry and hot weather across much of the country's low-lying areas." Alongside the heatwave, officials have also warned of the risk of widespread flooding during the upcoming monsoon season. The department's seasonal outlook projects above-average rainfall from July through September, particularly in central and southern regions. North-eastern Punjab and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are also likely to receive significantly above-normal rainfall, heightening the threat of urban flooding in major cities such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Karachi. Authorities are closely monitoring the possibility of flash floods in hilly regions, even as areas in northern Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), are forecast to receive below-normal precipitation. As per weather forecast, a new weather system is expected to bring thunderstorms, strong winds and isolated hail to the upper regions of the country. The latest alert warns of potential damage to infrastructure, particularly to vulnerable assets such as electric poles, solar panels, trees and vehicles. According to Rescue 1122 officials, a child died in Bahadurgaon in Attock district, where five other children were injured. A girl was injured when a wall collapsed in Jasian village in the same district. Two people went into shock after lightning struck in Rawalpindi. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, four people were killed and 10 were injured in rain-related incidents across different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, officials said.
