TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Saudi Arabian government has expelled nearly 269,678 Muslims who tried to enter Mecca without permission during the Hajj pilgrimage. The government has also taken strict measures by using advanced technology such as drones and artificial intelligence (AI) to hunt down illegal pilgrims.
In a press conference, Saudi officials said that only permit holders are allowed to perform the Hajj, even if they live in the city all year round. For anyone who performs the Hajj without a permit, there are a number of penalties prepared. Starting from a fine of up to 100,000 Saudi riyals (Rp 447.4 million) or other punitive measures.
Officials have also imposed sanctions on more than 23,000 Saudi residents for violating Hajj regulations and revoked the permits of 400 Hajj companies. Reported by Euro News, Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Omari told the media "pilgrims are in front of us, and anyone who does not comply is in our hands."
Not only targeting illegal pilgrims, Saudi Arabia is also targeting the networks behind the illegal efforts such as drivers, organizers, and illegal tour operators.
The sanctions faced include arrests, fines, and deportation of non-citizens. "We are not just stopping individuals, we are dismantling the operations that support them," the official said.
Using Advanced Drone Technology
According to a Gulf News report, Saudi Arabia is relying on drone technology to detect illegal pilgrims. These drones are equipped with sophisticated cameras to detect and intercept unauthorized pilgrims who try to enter the holy sites without official permission.
A video released by Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Public Security shows a drone patrolling a remote desert route.
Officials said the drones, which operate 24/7, are a key component of this year's enhanced security operations.
They monitor high-risk areas and provide live footage to a command center staffed by trained security analysts.
"This video shows how technology helps protect the Hajj," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. "Unauthorized pilgrims pose safety and logistical challenges. We are determined to prevent such violations.”
AI Capable of Recognizing Suspicious Movements
Furthermore, drone expert, engineer Hussein Al-Andas told Al Arabiya that the drones used during the Hajj season are equipped with advanced monitoring technology. These include thermal and night cameras, live broadcast devices for security forces, and the ability to fly autonomously at very high altitudes.
This allows the drones to carry out continuous monitoring without having to be directly controlled by humans.
To detect violators, Al-Andas said, drones work by analyzing movement and behavior patterns. With the help of AI, drones can recognize individuals who are not walking with the official group of pilgrims or who are following suspicious paths.
"This type of movement will be classified as suspicious activity. Drones also routinely monitor open areas and boundary points around the places of worship to identify infiltration attempts from outside the official routes," he said. Then, if the drone detects a suspicious vehicle or individual, its location will be immediately sent to the command center, which will then forward it to the field teams spread throughout the city of Mecca.
Thanks to its ability to fly automatically, the drone can follow violators and prevent them from hiding or running away until the security team arrives. Some drones have even been equipped with loudspeakers to provide direct warnings to violators.
Al-Andas assessed that the use of drones during the Hajj season brings many benefits, such as the ability to monitor more violators thanks to its wide field of vision, reducing dependence on officers in high-risk tasks, speeding up response to emergencies, and helping to prevent unnecessary crowds.
"All of this contributes to increasing the safety and comfort of orderly pilgrims," he said.
Editor's Choice: Immigration Blocks 1,243 Travelers Attempting Nonprocedural Hajj Departure
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Operation Spider Web: Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Strikes on Russia
1 hari lalu
Ukraine launched Operation Spider Web, targeting Russian air bases.
Today's Top 3 News: Indonesia Urged Not to Rush Diplomatic Ties with Israel
1 hari lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Immigration Blocks 1,243 Travelers Attempting Nonprocedural Hajj Departure
1 hari lalu
A total of 1,243 individuals possessed Saudi Arabian visas but did not have Hajj visas and other required documents for the pilgrimage.
Indonesian Citizen Dies in Jumum Desert While Attempting to Enter Mecca Illegally
1 hari lalu
SM, along with 10 other Indonesian citizens, was briefly detained in a raid conducted by the Saudi Arabian security forces in Mecca.
Saudi Arabia Releases 9 Key Recommendations Ahead of Hajj Peak
1 hari lalu
Ahead of the Hajj peak in Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina, Saudi Arabia issued nine important recommendations for pilgrims to follow.
Introducing Veo 3: Google's AI That Turns Text Into Stunning 4K Videos
1 hari lalu
Google's Veo 3 creates videos from text descriptions, often using a blurred background like smartphone portrait mode to highlight the main subject.
203,149 Indonesian Pilgrims Arrived in Mecca, Ready to Welcome the Peak of Hajj
2 hari lalu
The peak of Hajj will begin with the departure of pilgrims to Arafah on 8 Dzulhijah 1446 H, coinciding with 4 June 2025.
Today's Top 3 News: Hajj Furoda Visa Not Issued; Indonesian Govt: It's Under Saudi Authority
2 hari lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Indonesian Pilgrim Dies Attempting Illegal Desert Route to Mecca for Hajj
2 hari lalu
Three Indonesians attempting to reach Mecca for Hajj pilgrimage via unofficial routes were abandoned in the desert by a clandestine taxi driver.
Last Group of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims Arrives in Saudi Arabia
2 hari lalu
The final group of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
