Saudi Arabia: Mecca deploys 200 smart screens to monitor pilgrim movement during Umrah

Dubai: Saudi authorities have ramped up security efforts in Mecca during the busy Umrah season in Ramadan, deploying more than 200 smart screens at the city’s main Control Centre to monitor and manage operations in real time.

The high-tech centre plays a central role in implementing and coordinating security plans across the holy city, as millions of pilgrims arrive for the spiritual journey.

The system is designed to ensure smooth entry, movement and exit of pilgrims while maintaining crowd safety and rapid response capabilities.

The Control Centre supervises operations at 11 main entry points into Mecca, in addition to more than eight internal security checkpoints. Security tasks are divided across seven dedicated sectors, allowing for seamless coordination and live monitoring of developments across the city.

“All neighborhoods and districts are under continuous surveillance,” Saudi authorities said, noting that live video feeds are transmitted directly to the operations room at the Grand Mosque. The data is used to monitor crowd flow, identify potential disruptions, and adjust deployment plans instantly.

The Control Center is fully integrated with the Grand Mosque’s Security Operations Center and the Unified Operations Center (911), ensuring instant communication and coordinated response between all emergency and security services.

Operating 24/7, the high-tech hub is a critical node in the security infrastructure deployed during the holy month. It enables authorities to track the flow of pilgrims, monitor crowd density, and respond to potential incidents.