����ֱ��

JEDDAH: Young innovators and entrepreneurs are presenting new ideas for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, including a proposal for a cable car to improve safety for vulnerable pilgrims traveling to complete the stoning of the devil ritual.

With the support of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, these innovators are developing technologies, including mobile apps for navigation and platforms for managing pilgrim services, which are being presented at the Hajj Conference & Exhibition in Jeddah from Nov. 9-12.

The ritual journeys primarily take place on foot, yet Anhar Hamid Al-Luhiani, a student at King Abdulaziz University, is presenting an idea for a cable car project that could improve safety for more vulnerable pilgrims.

“My initiative is to develop a teleferic or cable car for those elderly and special needs pilgrims to move from Muzdalfah to Mina to avoid the crowd and heating and reach Mina faster,” she said.

She said she thought of this idea after her mother experienced difficulties when carrying out the stoning of the devil ritual.

“The purpose of this project is to make stoning more accessible to old Hajj pilgrims.”

She explained how the project is “smart transportation and sustainable. The distance for pilgrims from Mina to Muzdalfah takes them about 30 minutes walking, by bus 15 minutes, by train seven minutes, but with this teleferic it is going to take them about four minutes, which is faster and more comfortable for those elderly pilgrims and those with special needs.”

Saudi entrepreneur Abdulaziz Al Shawair is introducing an AI app for pilgrims called “Hadi.”

“It is a smart app which provides an integrated digital journey to enrich the experience of pilgrims from the moment of arrival until departure with high smoothness, through organized stages that include registration, guidance and smart transportation,” he said

“They can use it from (their) hometown until they reach Makkah. It guides them what to do in the airport, where to go in Makkah, informs them (of) the available transportation, the best time to perform Umrah in order to avoid crowded places, and in case of being lost, the app guides them to reach their place.”

 Another new technology implemented by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is a mobile phone app that can keep track of the number of pilgrims or visitors at the most crowded places in the holy sites.

The app was developed by Takween, a startup originating from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

Essam Ewis from Tamkeen told Arab News that it offers a simple interface to allow officials to track capacity limits.

“We are already signed with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to implement this new system in order to update the count in real time, making it effective for capacity management,” he said. “It helps organizers estimate the number of people standing in a given area. We are currently using this new technology at this Hajj Conference & Exhibition.”

Garibaldy Mukti, from Indonesia, showed his Pilgrim Pal app, which helps travel agencies streamline Hajj and Umrah services.

“It features pilgrim management, accommodation and departure management, financial management, location tracking and navigating, translator, (an) emergency button and Hajj and Umrah virtual simulation.

“It has been already used with various Indonesian agencies and proved its success.”

On the other side of the startup area was Mohammed Akoojee and his wife Sumayya Suliman with their product, “My Wudhu Companion.”

Akoojee told Arab News: “It is an ablution bottle, crafted to redefine the way Muslims perform wudhu, ensuring accessibility anytime, anywhere.”

He went on to say: “I and my wife thought of a way to make wudhu reachable for pilgrims in case of crowded rest areas. We delve into the multifaceted importance of water conservation in the life of a Muslim, examining its relevance in daily activities such as showers, bathing, ablution (wudhu), and general household water use.”

The innovation zone at the fifth staging of the exhibition offers the opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies from startups, while highlighting the success stories of entrepreneurs.

It also displays creative ideas and promising solutions shaping the future of Hajj services.

The exhibition includes a Hackathon Zone, a fertile ground for creativity where innovators and entrepreneurs come together to craft practical ideas that enhance services for pilgrims.