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Saudi Arabia Blocks 269,678 Unpermitted Pilgrims Ahead of Hajj

Drones, smart wearables plus 50,000 medical staff monitor pilgrims’ health to curb heat-related risks.

Overview

  • Saudi Arabia has barred 269,678 unlicensed pilgrims from entering Mecca and imposed fines up to $5,000 and deportation for permit violations.
  • Over 1.4 million officially registered pilgrims had arrived in Mecca by June 2, with additional arrivals expected ahead of Hajj’s June 4 start.
  • Authorities are deploying drones for crowd surveillance and fire control alongside smart wearable devices that track body temperature and heart rate.
  • The Ministry of Health has mobilized 50,000 medical and administrative personnel and treated dozens of heatstroke cases as temperatures exceed 40°C.
  • Last year’s Hajj saw 1,301 heat-related deaths, predominantly among unregistered pilgrims lacking access to air-conditioned shelters.