Read the latest updates on the Hajj pilgrimage here
The vast number of pilgrims descending on Madinah for this year’s Hajj can now be checked over by a doctor with a difference — in the form of a hologram.
The new state-of-the-art technology, available at the holy city’s Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, will offer people diagnosis by doctors more than 800 kilometres away, in Seha Virtual Hospital (SVH), Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health Fahd Al Jalajel announced the launch of the Holo-Doctor service for international pilgrims arriving in the kingdom, of which there had been about 313,000 by Wednesday, Hajj authorities said.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said 252,140 pilgrims had landed at the city's international airport, while 60,731 had arrived in the city by land since the beginning of Hajj season.
The new cutting-edge medical service developed by the Saudi Telecom Company aims to provide real-time consultation on intensive care, strokes and radiology from an interactive virtual team working around the clock.
Patients will need to stand in front of the machine at the airport to be examined by a doctor virtually. The medical professional will be able to analyse the patient's vital signs and consult or prescribe any required medication.
Mr Al Jalajel said Seha Virtual Hospital is now linked to many services offered in Makkah and Madinah to Hajj pilgrims.
The kingdom’s health authorities will provide 24/7 medical assistance and consultation services to pilgrims through a toll-free number 937, or on the SEHATY app throughout the pilgrimage season.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has hired 10,000 workers to serve pilgrims performing Hajj this year, with the kingdom adopting enhanced AI technology to improve this year’s experience.
Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission said its systems and networks had been fully installed, with more than 11,000 Wi-Fi access points and 5,900 communication towers across the two holy cities.
CITC governor Dr Mohammed Al Tamimi said the kingdom’s infrastructure would help to smooth the passage of fulfilling a lifelong dream for pilgrims performing Hajj, while enhancing their digital experience.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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New schools in Dubai
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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How do Sim card scams work?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
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They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
