Muslim-focused wearables launched at CES

Muslim-focused consumer technology will appear alongside mainstream global wearables at CES 2026 as iQIBLA unveils its third-generation smart device lineup at the event. The products address daily religious practice, continuous health monitoring, and physically-demanding environments, reflecting how connected devices are increasingly being designed around real cultural and environmental needs.

Source: iQIBLA. The iQIBLA third-generation smart wearables: (from left) the Zikr Ring J03 smart ring, Qwatch S6 smart watch, and the Hajj Band.

Founded in 2021, iQIBLA created the smart dhikr (ذِكْر, remembrance of god) ring category and has since shipped more than 3.5 M devices worldwide, with particularly strong uptake across GCC markets including KSA, the UAE, and Kuwait. There has been broader adoption across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, iQIBLA said.  

The Zikr Ring J03, iQIBLA's third-generation smart ring and the first to integrate Qibla direction into a ring-based wearable. Designed for discreet, continuous use, the device supports nine dhikr channels, touch controls, text display, prayer time reminders, and daily activity tracking.

Also featured is the Qwatch S6, a third-generation Bluetooth smart watch equipped with medical-grade sensors. The device monitors heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep quality, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. Alongside these health functions, it includes Quran access, prayer time reminders, qibla direction, a tasbih counter, multiple dhikr channels, and a Hijri calendar.

Completing the lineup is the Hajj Band, developed specifically for Hajj, umrah, and other high-exertion, high-density environments. The wearable continuously collects vital-sign data, uploads health information in real time, and issues alerts as physical strain increases, supporting users during prolonged walking, heat exposure, and crowd-intensive conditions.

"From the beginning, our focus has been on building technology that fits naturally into daily life," said the founder of iQIBLA, Jack Shao. 

"Many of our real-world use cases come directly from the Middle East. CES gives us a platform to show how these products sit naturally alongside the wider global consumer technology industry."

E-bracelets compulsory for Hajj this year

KSA has approved the use of water-resistant e-bracelets with barcodes for all Hajj pilgrims this year, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) has reported, citing the Ministry of Haj and Islamic Affairs (Ministry of Haj and Umra).

KUNA reports that the e-bracelet will acts as a means of pilgrim identification and contain their details and where they stay, which is particularly helpful for  pilgrims who are not Arabic speakers if they are lost. According to the Ministry of Haj and Umra, the bracelets will also include the pilgrim's photo, data on pilgrims' licensed service providers, accommodation details for Makkah, Madinah or other sacred sites, and telephone numbers of those helping them. The ministry has asked Hajj affairs offices worldwide to provide the required data before the pilgrims arrive in KSA, including where the pilgrim entered the country, visa number, and passport number.

HE Minister of Haj and Umra Dr Muhammad Saleh Benten has shared that the e-bracelet is part of the digital transformation drive at the Ministry of Haj and Umra and will help the ministry to improve the efficiency of both Hajj and umrah, enhance information transparency and allow information to be shared across stakeholders involved in providing Hajj and umrah services.

The initiative includes a database of all information which can be accessed by smartphone or iPad by ministry employees, security and other services.

Interested?

The e-bracelets were mentioned when Malaysian senior religious representatives visited the Ministry of Haj and Umra in KSA (then called the Ministry of Haj) in January 2016. Read the associated Suroor Asia blog post

KSA has created mobile apps for Hajj and umrah services for both iOS and Android. Download

Plantronics adds Apple Watch and Android Wear controls for premium headsets

Plantronics, an audio and wearable technology specialist, announced that the latest version of its Plantronics Hub for iOS and Android now supports the Apple Watch and Android Wear, broadening the company’s reach to include other devices within the growing mobile device ecosystem.

With the new smart watch extension, people can now manage the headset experience directly from their wrist. Plantronics Hub v3.5 for iOS and Android lets users manage, customise, and control premium Plantronics Bluetooth headsets, including the Voyager Focus UC headphones. Supported controls include muting and unmuting the headset, volume control, battery status, and ending calls. 

Interested?

Plantronics Hub v3.5 for iOS and Android with smart watch support is free and available* now at the Apple App store and Google Play.

*Plantronics Hub for iOS requires iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6, 6 Plus and iOS 8.3; Plantronics for Android requires OS v2.3.3 and later