Recognized as the world’s largest hackathon, the three-day event reflected a national commitment to innovation, creativity, and practical digital solutions aligned with public sector transformation.

Organized by the Ministry of Interior in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy, the hackathon brought together thousands of participants eager to contribute to the Kingdom’s evolving digital ecosystem.

Finalist teams represented a wide range of ideas, technical strengths, and problem-solving approaches, highlighting the diversity and maturity of Saudi Arabia’s technology talent pool.

The competition offered prizes totaling SR1 million, reinforcing the value placed on innovation while encouraging participants to pursue excellence and real-world impact.

Beyond prize money, the initiative emphasized long-term growth by offering structured support to help teams refine and commercialize their digital solutions.

Additional backing from the National Technology Development Program provided financial and strategic assistance to promising teams ready to scale their ideas.

Incubation opportunities through innovation labs enabled finalists to move from prototype development to market-ready products with professional guidance.

Officials noted that participation exceeded expectations, with more than 4,000 innovators joining from all regions of the Kingdom.

This strong turnout reflected rising national enthusiasm for technology, entrepreneurship, and digital problem-solving across generations.

Participants ranged from students to experienced professionals, illustrating the inclusive nature of Saudi Arabia’s innovation landscape.

The hackathon was designed around focused technology tracks to ensure relevance, depth, and alignment with national priorities.

These tracks included digital identity and security, artificial intelligence for predictive safety, Internet of Things solutions for field operations, and service enhancement for digital platforms.

This structured approach enabled participants to develop advanced concepts comparable to international technology competitions.

Throughout the event, participants benefited from extensive training programs delivered by leading global technology partners.

Workshops and mentoring sessions helped sharpen technical skills, foster collaboration, and expose participants to global best practices.

Organizers emphasized that the true value of the hackathon lies in its ability to translate creative thinking into practical tools that benefit society.

Innovations developed during the event aim to improve services for citizens, residents, and visitors while strengthening digital trust and efficiency.

The hackathon also served as a talent discovery platform, with standout participants gaining visibility among national and regional technology companies.

This connection between innovation and employment strengthens the broader technology ecosystem and supports sustainable workforce development.

Observers noted that such initiatives align closely with Saudi Arabia’s long-term vision for a knowledge-based economy.

The hackathon forms part of a wider national program designed to expand digital skills and innovation capacity across multiple cities.

Future initiatives under the Absher Tuwaiq umbrella are expected to engage tens of thousands of participants across diverse technical fields.

By fostering collaboration between government, academia, and industry, the program reinforces an integrated approach to digital transformation.

The upcoming Absher Conference will further highlight national innovations and strengthen international partnerships.

As Saudi Arabia positions itself as a global technology hub, events like this play a critical role in shaping talent, confidence, and ambition.

The scale and professionalism of the hackathon underscore the Kingdom’s readiness to compete on the global innovation stage.

Participants left the event with enhanced skills, expanded networks, and renewed motivation to contribute to national progress.

The success of the hackathon signals a future where Saudi-developed digital solutions play a leading role regionally and globally.

With continued investment and collaboration, the Kingdom’s tech ecosystem is poised for sustained growth and international recognition.

At the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, new innovations are being showcased to make pilgrimage experiences safer, smoother, and more accessible for all.

One standout concept is a cable car system proposed by Anhar Hamid Al-Luhiani, a student from King Abdulaziz University.
Her idea aims to assist elderly and differently-abled pilgrims in reaching the Jamarat (stoning site) efficiently and comfortably.

The cable car would provide safe, sustainable, and smart transport between Muzdalifah and Mina, reducing travel time dramatically.
While walking may take 30 minutes and buses 15, the cable car journey would take only around four minutes, offering a modern and comfortable alternative.

Al-Luhiani’s innovation was inspired by her mother’s challenges during Hajj, motivating her to create a safer and faster way for vulnerable pilgrims to perform their rituals. Her project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s vision for smarter, sustainable, and inclusive Hajj services.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is supporting similar technological developments that enhance organization and reduce congestion.
These innovations are part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to modernize pilgrimage management with advanced solutions.

Among the standout technologies is Hadi, an AI-powered mobile application introduced by Saudi entrepreneur Abdulaziz Al Shawair.
The app provides step-by-step guidance for pilgrims, from arrival to departure, helping them navigate, plan, and perform rituals efficiently.

Through Hadi, pilgrims receive real-time updates on transportation, crowd density, and optimal times for performing rituals, ensuring smoother movement. The application also offers support in case of emergencies or confusion, making it a valuable digital companion for pilgrims.

Additionally, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in collaboration with Takween, a startup from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, has developed another smart app.

This system helps track the number of visitors at crowded holy sites in real-time, allowing authorities to maintain safety and manage capacity effectively.

Technology experts like Essam Ewis from Tamkeen highlight how digital tracking promotes better organization and safety during pilgrimage seasons. He stated that the new system helps estimate crowd sizes and maintain smooth pilgrim movement across key sites.

The event also featured international innovators contributing to Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation goals for Hajj.
From Indonesia, Garibaldy Mukti introduced the Pilgrim Pal app, a comprehensive tool for managing accommodation, transport, and communication for Hajj and Umrah travelers.

This app simplifies coordination between travel agencies and pilgrims, offering translation, navigation, and emergency assistance features.
It has already been successfully implemented by several Indonesian agencies, proving its global potential and reliability.

Another inspiring product presented was My Wudhu Companion, developed by Mohammed Akoojee and Sumayya Suliman.
It is a portable ablution bottle designed to make performing wudhu easier for pilgrims in crowded or limited-space environments.

Their innovation promotes water conservation while supporting spiritual practices, aligning with environmental sustainability and Islamic values.
The product showcases how small ideas can create significant positive impacts for millions of worshippers.

The exhibition’s Innovation Zone and Hackathon Zone serve as creative spaces for entrepreneurs and developers to design solutions for future pilgrim services. These initiatives reflect Saudi Arabia’s vision to lead globally in technological excellence and hospitality in Hajj and Umrah management.

Through innovation, collaboration, and vision, the Kingdom is paving the way for a safer, more efficient, and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience. The future of Hajj is being shaped today — by creativity, compassion, and cutting-edge Saudi innovation.