Saudi Arabia serving pilgrims with expanded Makkah Route scheme

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is continuing to serve pilgrims through the expanded Makkah Route initiative, which streamlines the travel and entry process for visitors in partner countries.
Pilgrims from countries including Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye and Cote d’Ivoire have praised the Makkah Route initiative implemented in their countries.
Launched in 2019 in Muslim-majority countries, the scheme allows Hajj pilgrims to fulfill all visa, customs and health requirements in one place, at their airport of origin, saving long hours of waiting before and upon arrival in the Kingdom.
The process begins with the issue of electronic visas and individual information collection, followed by streamlined passport procedures before departure.
Stickers are placed on luggage and passports containing information on the flight data and place of residence of each pilgrim. The tagging service is carried out by a specialized team working under the supervision of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Teams at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport receive the luggage, which is then delivered to pilgrim accommodation.
The Ministry of Interior implements the Makkah Route initiative in cooperation with several agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and AI Authority, the Pilgrim Experience Program and the General Directorate of Passports.
Recently, Director General of the General Directorate of Passports Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya inspected Hajj terminals at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
It came as part of efforts by the directorate to serve pilgrims upon their arrival and departure at all border posts.
Al-Yahya urged department employees at the terminals to exert maximum effort in serving pilgrims.