NAP PODS FOR HAJ

Pilgrims get 3-hour access to pods for free

MANSOUR al-Amer swipes a card to reveal a narrow sleep pod, reminiscent of Japan’s famed capsule hotels. But this pod is in Saudi Arabia, where the haj begins today.

The free nap pods are part of new measures Saudi Arabia is rolling out this year to modernise the centuries-old practice of haj. The government also introduced apps for on-the-spot translation and emergency medical care.

Amer is the head of a Saudi charity, the Haji and Mutamer Gift Charitable Association, which is offering between 18 and 24 capsules for pilgrims to nap in for free in the coming days.

Each fibreglass pod, less than 3m long and just over 1m high, features a mattress, clean sheets, air conditioning and a large, welllit mirror. The pods can be lined up horizontally or stacked vertically to save space.

“We are always thinking about pilgrims and how to make them more comfortable during the rituals of haj,” Amer said.

The nap pods provide a solution for pilgrims of limited means who cannot afford to book hotels on site, but need a quick rest.

Each napper will have three hours of access to the pods, which are imported from Japan at cost of about US$1,114 (RM4,456) each.

When the pilgrim wakes for prayer time, workers will sterilise the pod before handing it over to the next pilgrim.

“The idea already exists globally, in Japan for example, and in several cities across the world.

“We believe it’s extremely wellsuited for crowded places in our holy sites and here.”

A trial run of 12 pods earlier this year was a success, he said, adding that 60 people used each pod every day during Ramadan

Saudi authorities are pushing a “smart haj” initiative to meet the growing demands of haj, which coincide with the kingdom’s modernisation drive.