High-Tech System To Stop 'Illegal Pilgrims' In Saudi Arabia

By Fauzia Arshi / Jeddah

Saudi Arabia is determined to make this year’s pilgrimage free of illegal Hajis as senior security officials vowed that they would apply advanced technology to stop individuals trying to sneak into the holy sites without permits.

“We will apply advanced technologies for the first time this year to detect fake Haj permits,” said Maj. Gen. Ayed Al-Harbi, commander of the Passport Department’s Haj force and its assistant director general.

He said the new technologies would help security officers at checkpoints carry out their mission efficiently.