With more than two million Muslims set to descend on Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage, Aramco Digital, in collaboration with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has carried out a successful trial in crowd management using AI and specialised communications services in the Holy Sites
The trial was carried out in partnership with the Supreme Authority for Industrial Security, the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), and Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR).
The initial operational deployment of the 450 MHz mission-critical network combines AI-powered crowd management, secure communications and integrated digital infrastructure to enhance field operations and ensure a safer and more connected pilgrimage experience.
It will enable seamless, real-time voice and video communications, ensuring the quality and continuity of services provided to pilgrims while offering secure, high-efficiency connectivity with instant response, unaffected by network congestion.
The initiative reflects the network’s readiness to operate in complex, high-density environments – enabling in-depth performance analysis, real-time insight generation and faster decision-making across operations.
The system will provide real-time crowd and vehicle analytics, with instant detection of crowd density, vehicle types and movement patterns. Edge AI enables immediate recognition of safety incidents and traffic anomalies, enhancing control, reducing latency and eliminating dependence on the crowd.
By leveraging AI-powered crowd management, secure communications and integrated digital infrastructure in a complex, high density environment, the system sets a new standard in safety and efficiency and is set to enhance co-ordination for future Hajj operations.
The trials were conducted using specialised wireless communication network operating in the 450 MHz band, which was licensed to Aramco Digital in October 2024.
Eid AlHarbi, president of connectivity at Aramco Digital, commented, “The initial operational development of the mission-critical network during this year’s Hajj represented a pivotal milestone in demonstrating the network’s performance and resilience within one of the most operationally intensive and high-density environments. This step supports the broader national rollout, positioning the network as a key enabler for industrial sectors to accelerate their digital transformation in full alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.”
