Pilgrimage amid pandemic: The high-tech Hajj 2021

The annual Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj will this year start from July 17 and end on July 22...

After a symbolic Hajj with just 1,000 pilgrims last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has this year restricted the Hajj to its 60,000 vaccinated residents between the age of 18 and 65.

The holy sites in Mecca and Medina normally host more than 2 million people during the pilgrimage.

In a landmark move, Saudi from this year has allowed women to perform Hajj without a male guardian. Till now, women could only apply for Hajj along with a "mahram" or male guardian...

In view of the Covid pandemic, the Hajj will see extensive use of technology to monitor the crowd and maintain social distancing...
The star attraction this Hajj will be these robots, that will be seen distributing the holy Zam Zam water to the pilgrims in Mecca without human contact... A number of robots carrying Zam Zam water bottles will be deployed at the Grand Mosque of Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medinah. Then there is new Ahraam fabric which is equipped with nanotechnology. Ahram is a two-piece unstitched garment worn by Muslim men during Haj and Umrah... The nanotechnology-equipped outfit will prevent bacteria from multiplying. It is 100 percent made from cotton and can be washed more than 90 times.
All the pilgrims will be given a smart card and all Hajj-related applications will be allowed online only.

'Itarman' App will be used to regulate pilgrims' movement and permits to enter the main mosques to avoid over-crowding and ensure social distancing.
Pilgrims will be slotted specific time bands in small groups to pray at the two Holy Mosques and other important sites to ensure social distancing.