Hajj 2026: Saudi Arabia deploys AI-powered services for pilgrims

Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 12-05-2026

Speaking Robot at Hajj 2026

Mecca

Saudi Arabia has introduced advanced AI-based services to improve facilities for Hajj pilgrims arriving from across the world. For the first time, authorities have deployed a talking robot at the “Ziauf al-Rahman Service Center” in Al-Kharj that can communicate in 69 languages and answer pilgrims’ common queries.

Developed by engineer Osama Al-Shamiri, the robot is designed to guide pilgrims in their native languages, reducing the need for translators and easing communication barriers faced by visitors from different countries.

Millions of Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia every year for Hajj, including pilgrims from Africa, Asia, Europe, and other regions who may not speak Arabic or English. The multilingual robot aims to make their journey smoother and more accessible.

Hajj robot has been launched. pic.twitter.com/h4g1xpl1Dl
— Mansour Alotaibi (@MansourAlofn) May 7, 2026

The Ziauf al-Rahman Service Center, spread across more than 50,000 square metres, can accommodate up to 35,000 pilgrims. Located on the main land route to Mecca, it serves as an important reception point for pilgrims arriving by road, providing them with guidance, directions, and essential services before they proceed to the Grand Mosque.

In another technological initiative, Saudi Arabia’s Public Transport Authority has launched a trial of an automated shuttle bus, named “Robobus,” in the courtyard area of the Quba Mosque in Medina. The project is among the Kingdom’s first experiments with driverless public transport technology.

pic.twitter.com/7CU01qilrh
— Mansour Alotaibi (@MansourAlofn) May 11, 2026

The AI-powered shuttle uses sensors and high-resolution cameras to monitor its surroundings, identify routes, detect pedestrians, and operate safely without a human driver.

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Currently, the Robobus runs on a dedicated 700-metre route within the Quba Mosque complex, with stops near entrances used by male and female pilgrims. During the trial phase, the shuttle operates only on its designated route alongside golf cart lane.