Makkah: Makkah yesterday witnessed the conclusion of the Smart Makkah Hackathon organized by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites (RCMC) in partnership with several supporting entities. The event drew wide participation from programmers, developers, technology entrepreneurs, and university students as part of efforts to empower young minds and harness innovation for the future of the smart city.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the activities began with a five-day virtual training camp offering mentorship programs aimed at enhancing participants' skills, followed by a three-day in-person hackathon featuring specialized workshops and intensive guidance sessions delivered by local and international experts to help teams transform their ideas into implementable projects.
The hackathon received more than 1,000 participants who submitted over 260 ideas. After preliminary selections, 300 participants worked on 37 technology projects, which were presented to a specialized jury for evaluation.
The projects targeted four key areas: smart urban planning, sustainability and quality of life, smart transportation, and visitor experience.
CEO of RCMC Eng. Saleh bin Ibrahim Al-Rasheed affirmed that the hackathon reflects the commission's vision of opening spaces for innovative ideas, aligning technology with the needs of residents and visitors, and accelerating their transformation into actionable initiatives. He stressed that the quality of the projects presented demonstrates the ability of Saudi talent to build a smarter, more innovative future and to enhance the experience of both Makkah residents and pilgrims.