Makkah authorities are using modern technology to control the number of people entering the Grand Mosque over the last 10 days of Ramadan, according to a report carried by Al-Yaum newspaper. These devices are being used at all the gates of the Grand Mosque to estimate the number of Umrah performers and visitors. The authorities are trying to curb many workers who enter the mosque in the last 10 days and perform Tawaf in their normal clothes while reading from the Qur'an. This has caused a great deal of inconvenience for Umrah pilgrims. Authorities are also trying to ensure that visitors, who are not performing Umrah, do not sleep in open areas and block passageways. There are more pilgrims circumambulating the Ka'ba during the last 10 days of Ramadan than at Haj time. This is because Haj pilgrims are only required to circumambulate the Ka'ba at certain set times. The Grand Mosque is also crowded because many Umrah pilgrims perform Itikaf in the Mosque till the end of Ramadan.
