King Abdulaziz University Showcases Health Innovations at Hajj Health and Security Forum

King Abdulaziz University, represented by the King Fahd Medical Research Center, the
university’s Health Promotion Center, and the Center of Research Excellence for Drug
Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, is participating in the third edition of the Hajj
Health and Security Forum, organized by the General Administration of Medical Services at
the Ministry of Interior from May 17 to 19, 2026. The forum brings together a distinguished
group of leaders, experts, and specialists in health, security, and crowd management.

The university’s booth was visited by Assistant Minister of Health for Health Services Dr.
Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, who reviewed the university’s key research and technical
initiatives designed to serve pilgrims. He also listened to a briefing on the innovative
solutions presented by the university.

KAU’s participation comes as part of its efforts to support health innovation and scientific
research, while harnessing modern technologies to serve pilgrims. The university is
showcasing a number of quality initiatives and projects related to crowd health and the
quality of health services during the Hajj season.

The Health Promotion Center presented the “Therascape Capsule” project, which uses
virtual reality and artificial intelligence to support mental health and well-being. The project
provides an immersive digital therapeutic environment that helps replace painful memories
with positive and mindful experiences by integrating the senses within a safe setting under
specialist supervision, supporting emotional regulation and psychological recovery.

The center also showcased “Sign2Sense,” an AI-powered project that provides real-time
translation of Saudi Sign Language to support mental health services for deaf and hard-of-
hearing individuals. The project enables two-way communication between beneficiaries and
mental health therapists, improving access to therapeutic services and enhancing the quality
of digital healthcare.

Through its participation, the university is highlighting the efforts of the King Fahd Medical
Research Center in advancing healthcare for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims through an integrated
system that includes crowd health research, emergency preparedness, infectious disease
surveillance, molecular diagnostics, and the development of smart solutions and advanced
innovations. These efforts contribute to improving the efficiency of services provided to

pilgrims, while also supporting health workforce training, health awareness, and capacity
building in addressing Hajj and Umrah challenges.

The Center of Research Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries is
represented at the forum by a number of students and researchers: Noor Badrini, Ayah
Hussein Al-Ghamdi, Diyala Ahmed Al-Qarni, Mohammed Abduljaleel Khojah, and
Mohammed Faqih. They presented the “Haji” application, an intelligent system powered by
artificial intelligence and connected to medical sensors to monitor pilgrims’ health
conditions and enable rapid intervention when needed, contributing to enhancing the
quality of health and security services during the Hajj season.

Through its participation, King Abdulaziz University reaffirms its continued scientific and
research role in supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and strengthening integration
among the academic, health, and technology sectors to provide advanced and safe services
for pilgrims.