E-Prosiding Persidangan Serantau Manasik Haji 2025 (MANASIK2025)

MANASIK2025 Putrajaya, Malaysia, 7-8 Oktober 2025 584 establishes the religious obligation but also symbolizes the requirement to execute the pilgrimage safely and in accordance with prescribed rituals. Furthermore, the Quran advises pilgrims to “ take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:197) , which can be interpreted in modern management as preparing practically while maintaining spiritual mindfulness. Complementing this, a well-authenticated hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ counsels believers: “Tie your camel and then put your trust in Allah” (Tirmidhi). This balances tawakkul (trust in God) with actionable preparedness, paralleling the contemporary application of technology to protect pilgrims from foreseeable hazards (Dhifallah, 2024; Huda et al., 2019). Against this backdrop of tremendous pilgrim volumes and inherent challenges, technological innovation emerges as a critical tool to enhance crowd control, communication, health monitoring, and logistical coordination. This study investigates how emerging digital solutions ranging from integrated management systems and drones to artificial intelligence and wearable health devices which is are deployed to complement religious obligations and ensure a safe, efficient, and spiritually rewarding pilgrimage experience. LITERATURE REVIEW The complexities of managing Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages have necessitated the adoption of innovative technological interventions in recent years, with 2025marking amilestone in digital transformation across pilgrim services (Alfelali, 2024; AlNemer, 2024; Alsulami, 2025; Muhammad & Junejo, 2025; Omar, 2025; Sharma & Behera, 2025). Saudi Arabia has embedded advanced artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, biometric authentication, and digital communication tools into the pilgrimage management ecosystem to ensure safety, efficiency, and spiritual enrichment (Abdallah et al., 2025; M M Almutairi, 2024; Shah, 2024). Integrated Pilgrim Management Systems One of the pillars of modern pilgrimage management is the Smart Pilgrim System, which combines biometric verification, digital visas, and real-time tracking to streamline the entry and movement of millions of pilgrims. The Makkah Route Initiative applies biometric and AI- driven immigration clearance processes at eleven international airports across seven countries, enabling pilgrims to complete visa, customs, and health protocols upfront (Arab News, 2025). This pre-departure clearance significantly reduces arrival congestion and improves overall flow into Makkah. Inside the pilgrimage zones, AI platforms like "Baseer" leverage computer vision and machine learning to monitor over one million pilgrim movements daily within the Grand Mosque complex (al-Qadi, 2024). These systems provide live analytics identifying crowd density and potential bottlenecks, allowing authorities to take preventive measures against stampedes and accidents. Such predictive technology has been pivotal in enhancing crowd safety, a critical concern considering the massive scale of the gathering. Mobile Applications and Virtual Assistants Contemporary pilgrimage management also includes user-centric technology such as mobile applications and AI-powered virtual assistants (Kumar et al., 2025; Roy, 2026). Examples include the Smart Enrichment Assistant and Digital Mutawwif, developed to assist pilgrims with prayer schedules, ritual navigation, and spiritual resources in multiple languages (Arab News, 2025). These tools play a vital role in overcoming language barriers, guiding pilgrims through multi-step rituals, and providing real-time alerts for crowd safety and health advisories. Wearable Technology for Health Monitoring and Safety Due to the high complexity of healthcare during mass gatherings (MG), the integration of Artificial