Key Takeaways
- SDAIA has set up 163 service points across arrival, departure, and Hajj terminals at Madinah’s airport for Hajj 2026
- 20 smart E-Gates are operating in coordination with the General Directorate of Passports to speed up pilgrim entry
- A 24/7 technical support room is receiving reports from all Hajj entry points across the Kingdom
Saudi Arabia’s data and AI authority is running a full technology operation at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah to handle the entry and departure of Hajj 2026 pilgrims. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), working with the Ministry of Interior and other government bodies, has built out the airport’s digital infrastructure to cut processing times and keep services running without disruption.
163 Service Points Across the Airport
Through its technology arm, the National Information Center, SDAIA has activated more than 163 service points spread across the international arrival and departure halls and the Hajj terminals. These points are backed by systems designed to move passengers through faster and reduce bottlenecks at peak times.
Twenty smart electronic gates — E-Gates — are also live at the airport, set up in coordination with the General Directorate of Passports. Mobile units have been deployed to back up field operations, and parallel backup systems are in place to keep all services running continuously.
What the Airport Director Said
Sultan Mutaib Al-Harbi, Director of the National Information Center branch at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, said SDAIA has used data and AI technologies to ease entry procedures for pilgrims arriving at the airport.
He described this as part of a wider role SDAIA plays in preparing the technology infrastructure across all land, air, and sea entry points for Hajj 2026, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Passports.
Al-Harbi said the work includes providing data and forecasting tools, which are being improved through ongoing AI development and made available to government agencies operating during Hajj.
A national technical team is working around the clock to secure both primary and backup communication lines, keeping services live at all times.
24/7 Support Room for All Hajj Entry Points
Al-Harbi added that SDAIA has set up a technical support room operating around the clock to receive reports from all Hajj entry points across the Kingdom, with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport included.
Preventive maintenance is being carried out on workstations and network equipment at the airport, and teams are overseeing infrastructure and data rooms inside the Hajj reception halls to keep operations stable throughout the season.
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