Saudi-based Hajj Hackathon makes it to the Guinness Book of Records

Saudi Arabia has officially made it to the Guinness Book of Records after carrying out the largest Hajj Hackathon for cyber security, programming and drones.

The event also saw the the largest number of participants in the world with 2950 people taking part.

Royal Court advisor and head of the Saudi Federation for Cyber Security, Programming and Drones, Saud Al-Qahtani said: “The Kingdom’s record in the Guinness Book highlights the aspiration of Saudi youth for their country to be a technology portal in the region,” he said.

He added: “this is in line with the ambitious Kingdom’s 2030 vision that takes the Kingdom to a quantum leap on all levels.”

The record-breaking Hajj Hackathon was announced at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.  

Saud Al-Qahtani, an advisor at the Royal Court and head of Saudi Federation for Cyber Security, Programming and Drones received the Guiness Book confirmation of the record achievement from arbitrator Ahmed Jabr.

The record breaking Hackathon with 2950 participants, smashed the previous event that saw 2577 people registered in India in 2012.

The Kingdom’s entry to the Guinness Book of Records, attracted developers from a variety of countries including Saudi Arabia and other other Gulf states, as well as the wider world.

The hackathon  involved Hajj related sectors, including food and beverages, public health, and accommodation arrangements, as well as waste management, housing and communication solutions.