Objectives: Haj is considered a unique medical crisis especially to th
e emergency department. This study will test the diagnosing ability of
a new concept based on triaging the patients into critical and non-cr
itical, medical and surgical cases. A prospective study of emergency d
epartment management during haj in the largest tertiary care hospital
in Makkah city and holy lands. Methods: Triage team was positioned at
each of the two entrances of the emergency department. The rooms of th
e emergency department were divided into critical and non-critical, me
dical and surgical areas, pediatric and obstetric and gynecological ar
eas. Results: The number of patients that attended the emergency depar
tment was 7676 and out of those, 1426 patients were admitted. The diag
nosing ability of the triage personnel was extremely accurate. Conclus
ion: Implementing the triage scheme of critical and non-critical, medi
cal and surgical cases and also dividing the rooms of emergency depart
ment to accommodate this triage was quite successful during haj. It mi
ght also be successful in similar situations.