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Saudi Arabia Expands Digital Health System for Hajj Pilgrims

Muslims perform Tawaf in the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, June 3, 2025. (SPA)
Muslims perform Tawaf in the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, June 3, 2025. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Expands Digital Health System for Hajj Pilgrims

Muslims perform Tawaf in the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, June 3, 2025. (SPA)
Muslims perform Tawaf in the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, June 3, 2025. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry said it has stepped up efforts this year to expand digital health services as part of a broader strategy to harness advanced technology and ensure safe and efficient medical care for pilgrims during the Hajj.

The ministry said preparations included strengthening digital infrastructure and deploying smart solutions to improve timely access to healthcare, aiming to deliver a safe and healthy pilgrimage for all.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Assistant Deputy Minister for Planning at the Ministry of Health, Eng. Yazeed Alotaibi highlighted a range of advanced digital solutions the ministry has developed, including the implementation of the “Electronic Health Record” system across all medical facilities in the holy sites.

The system allows for seamless, real-time connectivity between healthcare centers, speeding up diagnosis and patient transfers while enhancing medical response readiness in coordination with the command and control center.

Alotaibi added that services on the “Sehhaty” app have been upgraded to offer around-the-clock virtual medical consultations, alongside the 937 unified call center.

He said virtual clinics have also been activated in partnership with the virtual health hospital, enabling patients to receive specialized care remotely without the need to travel, easing pressure on field facilities and improving pilgrims’ access to medical services at any time.

AI integration

On the use of emerging technologies, Alotaibi said the Health Ministry has “extensively integrated artificial intelligence tools into its digital systems.”

These tools are being used to analyze medical conversations and convert them into digital records, while also suggesting accurate diagnoses, boosting the speed and quality of clinical decision-making.

AI is also employed to interpret medical images and identify critical cases that require urgent intervention.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry has rolled out a series of cutting-edge technologies to strengthen medical services for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj, including the use of drones, artificial intelligence, and cloud infrastructure.

Alotaibi said the ministry is deploying drone technology to deliver medicines and medical supplies swiftly to high-traffic areas, calling it “a fast and efficient solution” to meet urgent healthcare demands.

Cloud infrastructure has also been activated in health data centers to boost system efficiency and accelerate data sharing among relevant authorities, he added.

Digital health passport

Among other innovations, Alotaibi said the ministry has launched a “Digital Health Passport” in collaboration with Malaysia, Oman, and Indonesia. The initiative allows early access to pilgrims’ health status, allowing personalized care and streamlining medical procedures when needed.

On Monday, Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel inaugurated two key initiatives to support medical supply delivery using helicopters and drones.

These systems are designed to cut delivery times for medicines in high-density zones across the holy sites from 90 to just 6 minutes, enhancing emergency response capabilities.

Fahad Al-Buthi, CEO of supply chain and operations at NUPCO, a Saudi healthcare logistics company, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the drone program was launched in coordination with national authorities.

He said pilot tests showed the drone system could slash delivery time from 90 minutes to just six, a move expected to significantly improve access to critical supplies during peak Hajj periods.

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Gulf

Arab, Muslim States Alarmed by Israeli Plan to Move Gazans to Egypt

Rafah border crossing (Reuters file photo)
Rafah border crossing (Reuters file photo)
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Arab, Muslim States Alarmed by Israeli Plan to Move Gazans to Egypt

Rafah border crossing (Reuters file photo)
Rafah border crossing (Reuters file photo)

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye and Qatar said on Friday they were deeply concerned over Israeli statements about opening the Rafah crossing in one direction to push Gaza residents into Egypt.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the eight countries underlined their total rejection of any attempt to displace the Palestinian people from their land.

They said full adherence was needed to US President Donald Trump’s plan, which called for opening the Rafah crossing in both directions, safeguarding freedom of movement and preventing any resident of the enclave from being forced to leave.

The ministers said conditions must be created for Palestinians to remain on their land and to take part in rebuilding their homeland within an integrated vision to restore stability and improve humanitarian conditions.

The ministers reiterated their appreciation for Trump’s commitment to establishing peace in the region, saying it was important to move forward with the plan and carry out all its requirements without delay or obstruction in order to achieve security and peace and to strengthen the foundations of regional stability.

They called for a full and lasting ceasefire, an end to civilian suffering, and unrestricted humanitarian access into Gaza. They also urged the start of early recovery and reconstruction efforts and the creation of conditions that would allow the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities in the territory, paving the way for a new phase of security and stability in the region.

The ministers affirmed their countries’ readiness to continue working and coordinating with the United States and all relevant regional and international parties to ensure full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2803 and all related resolutions.

They said the objective was to provide an environment conducive to achieving a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in line with international legitimacy and the two state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, including the occupied territories in Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Gulf

Saudi FM, Qatari PM Co-Chair Coordination Council Executive Committee Meeting

Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani co-chair the Executive Committee meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. SPA
Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani co-chair the Executive Committee meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. SPA
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Saudi FM, Qatari PM Co-Chair Coordination Council Executive Committee Meeting

Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani co-chair the Executive Committee meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. SPA
Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani co-chair the Executive Committee meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Thursday with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Riyadh.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations, aspects of cooperation, and ways to develop them in a manner that meets the aspirations of the leaderships and peoples of the two countries.

Following the meeting, Prince Faisal and Sheikh Mohammed co-chaired the Executive Committee meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.

They reviewed the strong fraternal relations and ways to enhance them at bilateral and multilateral levels. They also discussed strengthening cooperation through several initiatives that would elevate relations to broader prospects.

Both sides praised the cooperation and coordination among the committees and working groups formed under the coordination council, stressing the importance of maintaining this level of progress to serve the mutual interests of both nations and their peoples.

The Executive Committee Secretariat presented an overview of the council’s activities and its committees over the past period, along with the latest updates and preparatory work for the eighth meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.

At the end of the meeting, the two ministers signed the minutes of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.

Gulf

Albudaiwi: GCC is a Global Investment Magnet, Driven by Stability and Economic Strength

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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Albudaiwi: GCC is a Global Investment Magnet, Driven by Stability and Economic Strength

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi stated that the strategic geographical location, political stability, and strong economic foundations of the Gulf states, coupled with the acceleration of Gulf integration projects, make the GCC a global destination attractive for investment and a key platform for international partnerships.

These factors, he added, enhance the status of the council states as a major player in shaping the future of the global economy, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Thursday.

The secretary-general's remarks were made during his participation in the opening session of the seventh Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Reviewing global economic transformations, Albudaiwi emphasized that the Gulf economy is undergoing a strong and sustainable phase, reflecting the success of economic reforms and strategic investments in future sectors.

He said that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the GCC states reached approximately $2.3 trillion in 2024, positioning the council states in ninth place globally and accounting for 63% of the total Arab economy. He added that the contribution of non-oil sectors exceeded 76% of the GDP, an indicator reflecting the success of economic diversification policies.

Albudaiwi also pointed to the strength and stability of the GCC financial sector, which boasts a market value exceeding $4.2 trillion, banking assets amounting to $3.5 trillion, and reserves approaching $800 billion. This is in addition to sovereign wealth funds exceeding $4.8 trillion, a fact that solidifies the council states' position as a key player in enhancing global economic stability, he stressed.

The secretary-general revealed that the GCC states are negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with numerous international partners, including the United Kingdom, China, Türkiye, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Korea. These negotiations aim to enhance trade and investment flows, diversify income sources, and open new markets for Gulf products, thereby elevating competitiveness and reducing consumer prices within the GCC states.

Regarding artificial intelligence, he confirmed that the GCC states treat AI as a fundamental pillar for economic and social transformation.

The General Secretariat has adopted several regulatory frameworks and guiding principles, including the Guiding Framework for AI Ethics (2024), the General Framework for AI Applications in Public Services (October 2025), and the General Framework for Climate Forecasting and Disaster Management using AI (October 2025). Furthermore, the comprehensive Gulf Strategy for Artificial Intelligence is set to be adopted in December 2025.