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High-Tech Measures Deployed as Hajj Pilgrimage Faces 50°C Heat

Mandatory smart wristbands have raised data privacy concerns among pilgrims

A day ahead of the commencement of Hajj 2025, pilgrims perform morning prayers in the grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on June 3, 2025.
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Muslim pilgrims walk around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
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Overview

  • Over 1.4 million pilgrims are undertaking Hajj from June 4–8 as forecast temperatures reach 50°C and authorities report 44 heat stroke cases so far.
  • Saudi Arabia has banned children under 12 and suspended short-term visas for 14 countries to curb unauthorized participation.
  • Authorities are using drones with thermal imaging, AI crowd monitoring, smart wearable wristbands and service robots to track health and enforce permit checks.
  • Expanded shade structures, reflective cooling paths and over 400 air-conditioned units and misting stations aim to shield pilgrims from extreme heat.
  • Critics warn that mandatory tracking apps and smart wearables pose risks to pilgrim privacy given Saudi Arabia’s limited data protections.