The Impact of Urban Management on Crowd Movement and User Experience through the Pilgrimage of Hajj (Frequent Temporary Mega-Events)

Abstract

The research looks at the impact of urban management on crowd movement and user experience during the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj. This study investigates and develops an urban management framework for crowd movement and user experience at frequent temporary mega-events. The thesis uses a mixed-methods approach to address a complex urban context during the annual pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Hajj is a unique event that hosts millions of pilgrims; nevertheless, it has many constraints and rituals. The current management system of Hajj suffers from a significant overlap of stakeholders' roles and responsibilities and the absence of user-centricity during the planning and operation of the crowd movement. Thus, Hajj needs a new governance system to establish a framework that addresses the users' needs and expectations. This investigation aims to identify the main touchpoints of the crowd movement toward Al-Masjid Al-Haram from the Jamarat Bridge in Mina to address the following aspects: event management, crowd movement, and user experience.