Inauguration of the Smart Engineering Center at the Prophet's Mosque to serve visitors
In a strategic move that reinforces the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position as a global model in crowd management and religious services, His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, inaugurated the "Smart Engineering Center for Command and Control" within the Prophet's Mosque compound. This inauguration took place in the presence of the Authority's CEO, Engineer Ghazi bin Dhafer Al-Shahrani, and a number of senior officials, in preparation for the anticipated increase in worshippers and visitors with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH.
A qualitative leap within the framework of Vision 2030
This project is not merely a technological addition; it represents a fundamental pillar within the Guests of God Service Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The center aims to achieve operational excellence by transforming the management of services at the Two Holy Mosques from traditional methods to a smart system based on big data and artificial intelligence. This step complements the historic development witnessed at the Two Holy Mosques, ensuring the performance of rituals with ease and tranquility, while focusing on increasing capacity and improving the quality of services provided to pilgrims from all over the world.
Advanced infrastructure and technologies
The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque revealed the precise technical details of the center, which was built on an area of (315) square meters. It has been equipped with the latest global technology, and includes:
- Surveillance screens: 22 advanced wall screens of the (Barco) type to provide a comprehensive panoramic view of all the mosque's facilities.
- Display systems: Interactive smart displays.
- Operational platforms: A suite of advanced systems including the Smart Center Notification System, the (EOD) system, the (Compliant) system, the (Astrom) system, and the (Rased) system.
These systems work in perfect harmony to monitor assets and services, analyze visitor voice, and measure operational compliance indicators in real time.
Performance governance and speed of response
The center's operational model relies on a qualified national workforce operating around the clock in four shifts, ensuring business continuity and efficiency. The center is distinguished by its ability to enhance operational governance through:
- Analyzing historical and current data to predict future needs.
- Providing accurate digital performance indicators that support strategic decision-making.
- Direct integration with relevant security and service agencies to ensure a rapid response to any emergency or operational report.
Expected impact on visitor experience
The Smart Engineering Center is expected to bring about a significant transformation in the experience of visitors to the Prophet's Mosque, especially during peak seasons such as Ramadan and Hajj. Through real-time monitoring of assets (such as escalators, air conditioning systems, and lighting) and services, response times to reports will be reduced, and facility readiness will be ensured to a very high degree. This initiative underscores the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to harnessing all available material, human, and technological resources to serve Islam and Muslims, and to provide a safe and comfortable worship environment befitting the sanctity of the place.
