Saudi Arabia has been managing the Hajj pilgrimage, which is the biggest religious gathering in the world, for the past 100 years. Approximately three million pilgrims from 193 countries visit the holy sites in Mina, Mount Arafah, Muzdalifah, and the Grand Mosque of Mecca within a relatively smaller space of 33km², over a period of six days. To handle such a large and diverse crowd, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has developed a system of crowd management that involves dozens of entities operating within a precise network. These include regulating traffic flow, controlling the movement of pedestrians and vehicles, and providing basic services such as toilets, first aid, lighting, and ventilation.
Saudi Arabia balances the roads, residences, and transportation, while taking high-precision security precautions. During the stoning of the devil ritual at Mina Valley, the Saudi Government constructed a five-story bridge that cost over $1.120 billion. With a length of 950 meters and a width of 80 meters, the bridge’s foundations were designed to withstand future additional stories to accommodate more than 5 million pilgrims. The transportation network in Saudi Arabia consists of ecologically-friendly Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro, which consists of 17 trains with 72,000 passenger capacity per hour, and 19,000 public transport buses that can move 900,000 pilgrims in the 2023 Hajj season. Additionally, shuttle buses will transport 700,000 pilgrims via 37 routes over 24 grouping operations.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has vast experience in crowd management involving millions of people, even though the world often sheds light on the success of countries like Qatar, Russia, and Brazil in managing crowds involving millions of people during events such as the World Cup. The Hajj pilgrimage, on the other hand, is quite challenging, considering a diverse pilgrim population that includes senior citizens, those with disabilities, and children. The Hajj pilgrimage is a unique experience that requires precise planning, efficient infrastructure, and advanced technology to ensure the safety of millions of pilgrims who come from all corners of the world.
