Authorities roll out digital solutions and trained personnel for smooth transportation
CAIRO: Saudi Arabia has trained hundreds of personnel to guide buses transporting pilgrims arriving for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in and around the holy city of Mecca.
The Guidance Centre for Buses Transporting Pilgrims from Abroad, overseen by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, has announced the completion of its operational and technical plan for the current Hajj season.
As part of the plan, more than 1,500 personnel have been qualified in coordination with relevant authorities to deliver comprehensive guidance services to pilgrims.
According to Abdullah Sindi, the head of the centre, over 1,200 field guides have been trained and equipped with smart devices that allow them to monitor and direct buses efficiently.
These devices are connected to a 24/7 control facility that tracks bus movements in real time to ensure timely arrivals at designated residences.
In addition, more than 300 administrative and field staff, mostly young Saudis, are involved in supporting the guides and managing the smooth flow of traffic.
The centre is leveraging the Arshadni (Guide Me) digital platform—an integrated smart system that enables guides to track buses and update trip data instantly.
Sindi noted that bus guidance operations begin at key locations including the main terminal in Al Nuwariyah and the Haramain high-speed train station in Mecca.
At these sites, procedures for receiving pilgrims arriving by bus and train are carried out using a unified electronic system linked to the Hajj and Umrah Information Centre.
This digital approach expedites the registration of pilgrims and facilitates their smooth transfer to accommodations.
Gulfnews
