Saturday, July 1, 2023

MAKKAH — Saudi Arabia will expand the utilization of AI technologies for managing Hajj in the coming years, the Minister of Interior has said.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, who is also Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, has conveyed greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Ministers Mohammed bin Salman to the employees of the ministry, the Presidency of State Security, and the military forces participating in the Hajj security efforts on the success of the pilgrimage operations.

The minister also conveyed the Saudi leaders' congratulations on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha and on the success achieved in the security and organizational plans that contributed to maintaining the security and safety of pilgrims.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud made the remarks during a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior in Makkah with the senior officials of the ministry, commanders of the security sectors and the Hajj security forces, and the supporting forces from the military and security sectors and agencies.

He stressed the importance of advanced technologies in supporting security forces in performing their duties during the Hajj seasons, while hailing the progress achieved in benefiting from artificial intelligence applications during this year's Hajj season, which was reflected in improving the quality of field performance.

The minister commended the integrated work among all military and security sectors that contributed greatly to the success of the Hajj security plan this year, which witnessed the return of the numbers of pilgrims to what they were before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister of Interior directed the officials to convey his greetings to the Minister of National Guard and the Minister of Defense and to all participants in this year's Hajj from the military and security sectors.

During the meeting, Director of Public Security Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami delivered a speech in which he emphasized that the participating security sectors were keen to exert all efforts to ensure the success of security plans in integration with all parties and achieve positive results. He added that one of the most significant gains in this year's Hajj was employing artificial intelligence in managing and organizing crowds at the Grand Mosque and the holy sites, which helped maximize the security and safety of pilgrims.

A number of military offcials attended the event. — SPA

Source: https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/633876/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-to-expand-use-of-AI-technologies-in-Hajj-Interior-Minister-says