In a strategic move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to harnessing the latest technologies to serve pilgrims, His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, inaugurated the “Smart Engineering Center for Command and Control” at the Prophet’s Mosque. This inauguration, which was attended by the CEO of the Authority, Engineer Ghazi bin Dhafer Al-Shahrani, comes at a crucial time with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, which witnesses the arrival of millions of visitors and worshippers.
Historical background and development context
The Prophet's Mosque, the second holiest site in Islam, has received meticulous and continuous care from the Saudi leadership throughout the ages. The Two Holy Mosques have undergone massive historical expansions to increase their capacity and provide greater comfort for Muslims. Today, this care enters a new era focused on digital transformation and artificial intelligence, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Smart Engineering Center represents the culmination of these efforts, shifting the concept of crowd and service management from traditional management to smart management based on data and real-time analysis, thus ensuring proactive handling of operational challenges.
Strategic importance and multidimensional impact
The importance of this center extends beyond the local level to encompass regional and international dimensions. Locally, the center contributes to enhancing the experience of over a billion Muslims who visit the Prophet's Mosque annually by ensuring smooth movement, high-quality engineering and operational services, and rapid response to any emergency. Internationally, this project solidifies the Kingdom's position as a leader in managing major religious sites and provides a global model that can be applied to managing large-scale events and gatherings. It also reinforces the Kingdom's image as a modern nation that invests in innovation to serve its Islamic and humanitarian causes.
Center components and advanced operating mechanism
The Smart Engineering Center represents a sophisticated operational hub, built on a 315-square-meter space and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. It features 22 interactive Barco wall displays and a smart screen, serving as an integrated visual interface that displays live data from various advanced operational systems, such as the Smart Center Notification System, the EOD System, the Compliance System (Mutamlith), the Astrom System, and the Rasid System. These systems enable precise monitoring of every detail of operations, from the condition of assets and facilities and visitor satisfaction to ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards.
Enhanced operational governance and efficiency
The center operates 24/7 with a qualified staff working in four shifts, ensuring continuous monitoring and control. Its primary objective is to enhance operational governance through digital performance indicators and analytical reports based on historical and current data, while also anticipating future needs. This data-driven approach supports efficient and rapid decision-making, improves resource allocation, and ensures the highest level of service readiness, particularly during peak seasons such as Ramadan and Hajj. The center serves as a unified operational platform, guaranteeing a safe and accessible spiritual experience for all visitors to the Prophet's Mosque.
