Launch of the Makkah Route Initiative in Brunei to serve pilgrims
Terminal at Brunei Darussalam International Airport on Monday Makkah Route Initiative . The opening ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including His Excellency the Minister of Religious Affairs, Haji Badaruddin bin Haji Othman; His Excellency Lieutenant General Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahya, Advisor to His Royal Highness the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Initiative's Supervisory Committee; and His Excellency Saleh bin Abdulkarim Al-Shiha, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Brunei Darussalam. This initiative reflects the Kingdom's ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality services to pilgrims and facilitating their spiritual journey from the moment they depart their home countries.
The historical roots and ongoing development of the Makkah Route Initiative
is The Makkah Route Initiative one of the most prominent national initiatives launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the Guests of God Service Program, a key executive program of Saudi Vision 2030. This pioneering initiative began its journey in 1438 AH (2017 CE) with the aim of transforming the Hajj and Umrah experience. Since its inception, the initiative has gradually expanded to include several Islamic countries, achieving successive successes in streamlining procedures and reducing waiting times.
The Ministry of Interior is implementing this initiative for the eighth year in close cooperation and 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, the Guests of God Service Program, and the General Directorate of Passports, in conjunction with the digital partner (stc Group). These joint efforts have resulted in serving more than 1,254,994 pilgrims since its launch, reflecting the scale of achievement and continuous development in managing the Hajj system.
Strategic goals to provide the best services for pilgrims
The initiative aims to provide high-quality services to pilgrims from participating countries traveling to the Kingdom. This includes receiving them and facilitating their entry procedures in their home countries with ease and convenience, starting with the electronic issuance of Hajj visas and the collection of their biometric data. The General Directorate of Passports then handles the entry procedures into the Kingdom at the departure airport after verifying compliance with health requirements. The procedures also include tagging and sorting luggage according to transportation and accommodation arrangements within the Kingdom, and direct transfer to buses that will transport pilgrims to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah via designated routes. Partner agencies will then ensure the safe delivery of their luggage.
Positive dimensions and impacts locally and internationally
This initiative not only facilitates individual procedures for pilgrims but also encompasses crucial organizational, security, and health dimensions. Domestically, it effectively alleviates pressure on Saudi air gateways, particularly King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, preventing congestion and ensuring the smooth flow of passengers during the Hajj season, which sees millions of pilgrims arriving simultaneously.
At the regional and international levels, the expansion of the initiative to include countries like Brunei Darussalam enhances the soft power of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reaffirms its leadership in the Islamic world. Providing these facilities reflects the Kingdom's commitment to harnessing cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and advanced electronic systems, to serve humanity and facilitate the performance of religious rites. It also deepens the diplomatic and fraternal ties between Saudi Arabia and Islamic countries, making the Hajj experience a safe, comfortable, and meticulously attended to from the very first step until the pilgrim's safe return.
