Saudi Arabia Launches Metaverse for Hajj, Umrah

Saudi Arabia announced that it has launched a metaverse platform for educating pilgrims on the rituals of Hajj and Umrah.

This new platform was launched by the King Abdulaziz University and the Virtual Reality Research Group in collaboration with the artificial intelligence consulting office during the second edition of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition, Hajj Expo, held in Jeddah till January 12 with the participation of 81 speakers and officials from more than 57 countries.

The Hajj metaverse will teach the rituals for the pilgrims from their arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah till finishing all rituals. The first-of-its-kind virtual tour needs only three minutes for the pilgrim to complete it.

The user will see Kaaba, Mount Arafat, Jamaraat Bridge, and other holy sites during his tour. The platform will count the waiting period at the various places that witness the biggest amount of congestion during the Hajj season, such as toilets, with the motive of reducing the burden on the pilgrim, so that he does not have to stand for long periods in these areas during peak hours.

Moreover, the Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization offered a virtual experience for the visitors of its pavilion during Hajj Expo to get familiarized about the Prophet Muhammad’s life.

The event was attended by more than 60,000 visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom, and more than 200 specialized companies were present, in addition to local companies.