Pilgrimage and cultural travel are going digital — fast.
Islamic tourism is changing. Countries in the MENA region are investing in tech to make religious travel safer, smarter, and easier. Robots, virtual reality, and mobile apps are now part of the experience — not in the future, but today.
Robot Helpers in Mecca
In Mecca’s Grand Mosque, smart robots help guide pilgrims. They answer questions about rituals, directions, and health rules. No need to touch — everything works by voice. These robots support multiple languages, including Arabic, English, French, Urdu, and Turkish.
They’re built with AI, 3D cameras, and real-time communication tools. Their job is to reduce crowds and give clear, fast help during busy times like Hajj and Umrah.
Saudi Arabia is also using AI to manage crowd flows, QR codes for transport, and digital booking systems for pilgrims.
Virtual Tours Before the Real Trip
Many people now use VR to see holy sites before they travel. The “Experience Makkah” project lets users walk through the city in 3D. It’s a tool to prepare for the journey and learn what to expect.
Across the Gulf, museums are using VR to show Islamic art and architecture. In Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE, users can explore old mosques and markets from home.
Startups like Barakah VR make halal-friendly experiences. These focus on clear narration, no avatars, and simple, respectful design.
Halal Tech Is Growing
Islamic tourism is part of a bigger movement: halal tech. This includes prayer apps, qibla-finding tools with AR, and hotels with smart, Muslim-friendly features.
The Salam Standard rating helps travelers find hotels with no alcohol, prayer spaces, and halal food. Many of these places now use app-based check-ins and room controls.
This is not just about rules — it’s about comfort and ease for travelers who follow Islamic practices.
VR in Entertainment: A Growing Niche
While VR is still new in the region’s entertainment sector, interest is growing. Some online casinos now experiment with virtual reality features — offering immersive lobbies or 3D versions of game rooms.
On aggregator platforms like Arab casinos, users can explore various operators that support Arabic language and are accessible to players from the MENA region. Among these, it’s already possible to find VR-enabled options, though they remain a niche.
For many users, live casino games remain the most popular choice — especially in mobile formats adapted for Arabic speakers. But as VR hardware becomes more common, more platforms are likely to adopt this tech in the coming years.
What’s Next
Saudi Arabia plans to invest billions in smart tourism by 2030. That means more AI, better apps, and faster systems for bookings and guidance.
Pilgrimage stays sacred. But everything around it — from hotels to learning tools — is being upgraded.
Robots, VR, and mobile apps are already in place. The focus now is to make them work better together, in ways that respect tradition and make travel smoother for everyone.