The Second International Conference on Mass Gatherings and Emergency Medicine, organized by the Madinah Chamber of Commerce, sees doctors, healthcare practitioners, and medical students discuss the latest developments in mass gatherings and emergency medicine, as well as the challenges healthcare workers and authorities face when dealing with crowds and emergencies. Conference Chairman and Consultant of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Alfaisal University Dr. Mohammad Alfaifi told a Saudi Press Agency reporter that the three-day conference that began yesterday has sessions dedicated to various papers and researches presented by speakers from the Kingdom and abroad. Among the speakers is Professor of Emergency Medicine Abdo Khoury, who talked about the preparations, challenges, and solutions implemented during the Paris Olympics, and Consultant in Emergence Medicine Dr. Muna Al-Musleh from Qatar, who talked about the preparations and challenges during her country's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. A paper was presented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research on applying AI in crowd management during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. Alfaifi said that the conference is part of the efforts to raise the expertise and skills of medical staff and health practitioners, especially in preparation for Saudi Arabia hosting upcoming international events such as the World Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup. He stressed that such gatherings and conferences offer an opportunity to discuss and address preparations, challenges, and emergencies related to crowd organization, and suggest optimal solutions and best practices. He also emphasized Saudi Arabia's prominent role in this area, attributing it to the extensive experience in crowd management during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. Source: Saudi Press Agency
Wednesday, April 22, 2026