Haram live crowd updates: Tawaf and Sa'i crowd levels now shown in real time for Umrah

Pilgrims at Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah can now see how crowded the Tawaf and Sa'i areas are in real time, and choose a quieter time to perform Umrah. The digital service, run by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, was reported by the Saudi Press Agency and carried by Bernama on 17 October; ARY News reported it for Pakistani readers today.

Haram live crowd updates: what you will see

• Live crowd levels for the Mataf (the Tawaf area around the Kaaba) and the Mas'a (the Sa'i walkway between Safa and Marwa), shown on live displays with real-time updates.
• Indicators of less crowded times, so you can plan when to start your Tawaf or Sa'i.
• An interactive map of both mosques with about 950 points of interest, among them the Kaaba, Maqam Ibrahim, Safa and Marwa in Makkah, and Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, the Prophet's Chamber, the mihrabs and the minbar in Madinah.
• More than 100,000 possible routes across more than 17 categories of facilities and services, from gates to washrooms.
• More than 650 QR codes on site that open information about landmarks, facilities and services.
• Interactive screens that help with directions, including routes and facilities suitable for people with disabilities.

The map itself is not new: the authority's chief executive, Ghazi Al-Shahrani, launched the smart interactive map system in February, the Saudi Press Agency reported at the time, saying it would steer visitors to the best routes when gates close or crowds build. What is new is the live crowd information for the two rites every Umrah pilgrim performs.

What it does not say

The announcement does not name an app, and it does not say whether the crowd levels can be checked on your own phone before you reach the mosque. For now, treat the screens and QR codes inside the mosques as the official source, and be wary of unofficial apps or WhatsApp forwards that claim to show "live Haram crowd".

Why it matters for pilgrims from Pakistan

Knowing when the Mataf and the Mas'a are less crowded matters most for elderly parents and pilgrims in wheelchairs, and the accessible-route information on the screens is aimed at them.

Three things to sort out before you fly:

1. Budget in riyals and rupees. The riyal is at Rs 73.84 today; follow it on our Saudi riyal to rupee page and see what flights, visa, hotels and packages cost in our guide to Umrah cost from Pakistan.
2. Vaccination. Pilgrims flying from Peshawar can travel without the certificate only until 25 October; after that it is compulsory. Details in our Umrah vaccination story.
3. Plan the rites around the crowds. Once in Makkah, check the live displays and screens for the Mataf and the Mas'a before you start, and use the map's routes to find the nearest gate, wudu area and wheelchair access.

The map covers both mosques, so it also helps in Madinah, including the way to Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah.