The first flights of the Makkah Route Initiative from Bangladesh for pilgrims have begun
The first flight carrying beneficiaries of the Makkah Route Initiative departed from the People's Republic of Bangladesh today, bound for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. The flight departed from the dedicated terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, the capital, and landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The farewell ceremony was attended by high-level officials, including the Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, and the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Bangladesh, Abdullah bin Abayah.
Objectives and facilities of the Makkah Route Initiative for pilgrims
The Makkah Route Initiative aims to revolutionize the level of services provided to pilgrims from participating countries. The initiative facilitates the arrival of pilgrims and streamlines all their procedures in their home countries before departure. These facilitations begin with collecting travelers' biometric data and issuing Hajj visas electronically, followed by completing passport control procedures at the departure airport after verifying compliance with all necessary health requirements. Furthermore, the procedures include tagging and sorting luggage according to the Kingdom's approved transportation and accommodation arrangements. Upon arrival, pilgrims are transferred directly to designated buses that transport them to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah via dedicated routes, while partner agencies ensure the safe delivery of their luggage to their rooms without the need to wait in arrival halls.
Historical context and ongoing development of services
This step comes as an extension of the great efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to serve Islam and Muslims. The initiative was first launched in 1438 AH (2017 CE) as a key component of Saudi Vision 2030, specifically within the “Guests of God Service Program.” Since its inception, the wise leadership has sought to expand the scope of beneficiary countries year after year, to include numerous Islamic countries in Asia and Africa. The Ministry of Interior is implementing this initiative in its eighth year through close cooperation and institutional integration with several government entities, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Hajj and Umrah, and Media, in addition to the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the General Authority for Endowments, and the General Directorate of Passports, in coordination with the digital partner (stc Group). These cumulative efforts have resulted in serving more than 1,254,994 pilgrims since the project's inception.
Strategic importance and regional and international influence
The success of this national project holds immense significance, extending far beyond local boundaries to encompass broad regional and international horizons. Locally, the initiative contributes to alleviating operational pressure on Saudi airports and entry points during the peak Hajj season, thereby enhancing crowd management and streamlining passenger flow to an unprecedented degree. Regionally and internationally, it reflects the Kingdom's positive image and its exceptional ability to leverage cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions to facilitate the journey of pilgrims arriving from all corners of the globe. Providing this seamless and comfortable experience strengthens bilateral and diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and the participating Islamic countries, and underscores Saudi Arabia's leadership in setting a global benchmark for managing major events and massive gatherings, leaving a profound and positive impact on the pilgrims and reflecting the authentic values of Arab and Islamic hospitality.
