Key Numbers Behind the Hajj Pilgrimage

The Hajj, a 5-day pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest site, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is one of the largest gatherings in the world. This year close to 2 million people are expected to make the journey.

With so many people traveling to Mecca, the transportation, logistics, and ritual of the pilgrimage proves to be a feat to figure out. Stampedes, heat, and crime pose major problems for the massive religious gathering, which every physically and financially capable Muslim is expected to make at least once in their lifetime.

The Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity hosted a massive hackathon to solve these problems. With roughly 3,000 participants from all over the world, the event broke the Guinness World Record for most participants in a hackathon. The winners? An all-female Saudi-Arabian team that created an app for translating signs around Mecca without internet. By minimizing confusion, the hope is that there will be a reduced chance of stampedes, so that all can enjoy the once in a lifetime pilgrimage.