Interactive screens at the Grand Mosque: A guide for pilgrims and Umrah performers
A qualitative leap in serving pilgrims: Smart interactive screens roam the Grand Mosque
In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to harnessing the latest technologies to serve pilgrims, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has intensified its efforts by activating a comprehensive system of interactive, multilingual smart screens. This initiative is part of the operational plan for the Hajj season, aiming to enrich the religious experience of pilgrims and Umrah performers and deepen their understanding of Islamic law through reliable and accessible content, representing a pioneering digital transformation in the history of services provided at the Two Holy Mosques.
The historical context of the development of guidance services in the Two Holy Mosques
Throughout history, guidance and counseling services at the Grand Mosque have relied on traditional methods, ranging from scholarly circles and live lessons delivered by scholars to fixed informational signs, brochures, and printed booklets. Despite the importance of these efforts, they faced increasing challenges with the massive growth in the number of pilgrims from around the world, and the accompanying vast linguistic and cultural diversity. This highlighted the urgent need for innovative solutions that transcend geographical and linguistic barriers, ensuring that accurate religious information reaches every pilgrim in a modern and effective manner.
The importance of interactive screens and their expected impact
These screens represent a modern technological leap, offering guidance and religious rulings in more than 42 languages, with a focus on disseminating the values of moderation and tolerance that are at the heart of Islam's message. The impact of this initiative extends beyond the local level to a global one; it ensures a unified source of religious rulings and information, contributing to correcting misconceptions and combating extremist ideologies. Regionally and internationally, this step reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leading religious authority and highlights its efforts to embrace the cultural diversity of Muslims and facilitate the performance of their religious rites with peace and understanding, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to comprehensively enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience.
Locations of interactive screens inside the Grand Mosque
To ensure maximum benefit, the screens were distributed in more than 70 key field locations that experience high visitor density, including these locations:
- Expansion of the circumambulation area
- Saudi Pavilion
- King Fahd Expansion
- Third Saudi Expansion
This system is overseen by the Intellectual Security Agency, ensuring that the content provided is reliable and carefully vetted. This strategic distribution allows pilgrims quick access to information in their native languages, especially during peak times when the need for immediate guidance and direction is greatest.
The main benefits of interactive screens for pilgrims
- Providing reliable content: Offering reliable legal opinions and guidance in multiple languages to correct misconceptions.
- Enhancing religious awareness: Enabling pilgrims to perform religious rites with insight and peace of mind.
- Supporting cultural diversity: It reflects the universality of the Islamic message and serves Muslims from all over the world.
- Efficiency and speed: Reducing reliance on traditional methods such as posters and brochures, thus ensuring higher speed and efficiency in delivering information.
- Integrated digital system: Raising the level of awareness services within a comprehensive digital system that keeps pace with the requirements of the times.
