Registration is now open for the Makkah Smart Hackathon 2025, a major initiative led by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites. The hackathon aims to connect young minds and technology experts with real-world opportunities to transform the city’s daily challenges into innovative digital solutions.
By the Numbers
- SAR 25,000: The top prize for the first-place winning team.
- 8: Key urban challenge tracks for participants to tackle.
- August 6, 2025: The final deadline for registration.
Program Overview and Mission
The Makkah Smart Hackathon is a core part of the “Barmajan SANA” initiative. Its mission is to empower the community to build an innovative future for Makkah and the holy sites by developing applicable tech solutions that improve the quality of life and services for residents and pilgrims, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.
Key Challenges
Participants are invited to form teams and build solutions for a wide range of real-world urban challenges, including:
- Transportation & Parking
- Urban Planning
- Smart Government & Community Participation
- Housing
- Safety & Inspection
- Land Surveying & Management
- Environment & Waste
- Infrastructure
Prizes and Benefits
In addition to cash prizes for the top three teams, the hackathon offers significant developmental support:
- 1st Place: SAR 25,000
- 2nd Place: SAR 15,000
- 3rd Place: SAR 10,000
- Additional Benefits: Opportunities for incubation for distinguished projects, along with technical support, strategic guidance, and investment connections.
Who Should Apply?
The hackathon is looking for dedicated teams that meet the following criteria:
- The team must consist of 3 to 5 members.
- The team must be able to attend the in-person hackathon events.
- The team should ideally include a developer, a UX designer, and a business analyst.
Key Dates and How to Apply
- Registration Deadline: August 6, 2025
- Intensive Training Period: August 10-16, 2025
- In-person Hackathon: August 18-20, 2025
- How to Apply: Interested teams can register now via the official hackathon website. You can apply here.
About the Organizer
The hackathon is led by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, the government body responsible for the strategic development of Makkah and the holy sites, in line with the highest global standards.
Source: Makkah Smart Hackathon
