Makkah's Grand Mosque launches new AI robot guides that speak 11 languages

The presidency of the holy sites said the new electronic assistants seek to boost accessibility for all

Robots at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Pilgrims visiting Makkah’s Grand Mosque can now get guidance from new four-wheeled robot guides.

With 21-inch touchscreen "faces", the AI robots will drive around the mosque and help answer questions or give guidance on the different obligatory rituals worshippers have to perform.

A smart stoppage system will prevent them from running into people or objects.

For ease of communication, the robots also speak 11 languages – including Chinese, Russian, English, French, Farsi and Turkish. It can even help connect them with sheikhs and scholars in different languages.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said it aimed to develop and revolutionise the level and ease of services offered to the faithful during visits to Makkah, state media said.

The new robot guides are not the only automated assistance at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Physical distancing stickers are removed from the Grand Mosque after Saudi Arabia lifted the requirement to wear masks and observe social distancing in open spaces. All photos: SPA

The move came after the number of Covid-19 cases in the kingdom continued to decrease, Saudi Arabia’s official press agency (SPA) said.

Pilgrims are warned they must still wear masks and use the Tawakkalna mobile app to confirm their immunity status when entering the kingdom’s two Holy Mosques.

The lifting of restrictions is the latest in a series of moves by Saudi Arabia after it reopened its borders to travellers in May.

There is now widespread hope that primary schoolchildren will soon be allowed to attend classrooms across the country.

Dawn prayer at the Grand Mosque after the cancelling of physical distance.

More than 20.6 million of the country's 34.8 million population have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Saudi Arabia recorded two deaths and 45 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday.

There was positive reaction to the latest lifting of restrictions. ‘This is great news,’ said Naushad Mohammed, a British citizen who lives in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Mohammed praised the kingdom’s response to the virus. ‘Saudi Arabia has done an impressive and tremendous job in taking care of its people, be it residents or citizens during the pandemic. We were all given free medical care and vaccines and are really lucky to have been here during the pandemic.’

'I am glad we are turning a new chapter and hope the world can go back to normal," Mr Mohammed said.

There are also automated cleaning robots to sterilise the premises and thereby help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Other robots roam the site between 8am and 5pm to distribute Zamzam holy water bottled from the well under the mosque. Both work without human intervention using smart systems.

The Smart Robot, which weighs 300 kilograms, can carry 68.14 litres of water for cleaning. It can move at speeds of up to 5 kilometres per hour, uses cameras and overhead sensors to identify the layouts and avoid colliding with people and obstacles.

The presidency aims to help educate Muslims around the world on using new technologies – including artificial intelligence and e-learning.

For example, the recently launched Smart Quran was launched to help those with visual disabilities read the text in Braille.

Muslims from around the world can also earn a certification for participating in initiatives such as the Maqra' Al-Haramayn, the Two Holy Mosques Reader, that teaches the Quran. The e-lessons take place from the Grand Mosque in Makkah and is available in six languages, including Urdu, English and Hausa.