Saudis launch 'hajj smart card'
The card will help authorities regulate entry into holy sites during the Islamic pilgrimage as well as crack down on illegal entry.
![Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umra/AFP via Getty Images](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/2021-07/GettyImages-1228878564.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=Teqpm381)
Saudi authorities have created a new digital system for hajj pilgrims, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s so-called “hajj smart card” can be scanned at self-service devices at Muslim pilgrimage sites. The card stores personal information, identifies gathering points and departure times for holy site visits, dispatches notifications from authorities and allows holders to order meals. The purposes of the card include “reducing illegal hajj” and controlling entry to the holy sites, according to the agency.