2016 Hajj: Saudi Arabia says pilgrims to wear electronic bracelets for guidance and security reasons
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that pilgrims will have to wear electronic identification bracelets as a safety measure during this year’s Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Shops have started selling the electronic bracelet and also have started downloading the personal identification information of pilgrims onto it.
“The information that must be saved on the bracelets includes the whereabouts of the pilgrims, from where he had entered Saudi Arabia, the visa number, passport number and address of each pilgrim.” Added SPA.
Eisa Mohammad Rawas, the undersecretary for Umrah affairs at the ministry indicated uring last week’s premiere exhibit of the new gadget, that the bracelet will help authorities spot every pilgrim including those who are lost, the elderly and those who do not speak Arabic.
“It is water-resistant, connected to GPS, and contains personal and medical information, helping authorities provide care and identify people.” Rawas explained.
The bracelets will also notify the pilgrims about time of prayers, and they have a multi-lingual help desk to guide them, especially the non-Arabic speaking pilgrims, around the various rituals of Hajj, SAP elaborated.
The information on the devices can be accessed using smartphones by employees of the Hajj ministry, and security and services personnel, the Undersecretary Rawas concluded.
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