The transportation system is ready to serve pilgrims with 6 airports and 104 carriers
The Minister of Transport and Logistics, Engineer Saleh Al-Jasser, announced the completion of all operational preparations for the transportation system serving pilgrims this year. The system is fully operational across its air, land, sea, and rail routes to ensure the best possible services for the pilgrims. This announcement was made during a government press conference, where he emphasized that the system is operating at full capacity, supported by more than 46,000 field personnel, to provide a safe and convenient travel experience from the moment pilgrims arrive until their safe return home.
A historical legacy and global influence in caring for the pilgrims
Historically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed great emphasis on developing the infrastructure of Mecca, Medina, and the Holy Sites. For decades, transportation plans have been continuously evolving to accommodate the millions of pilgrims who visit each year. This strategic development not only has a local impact, boosting the national economy and creating thousands of jobs, but also extends its influence regionally and internationally. It reflects the Kingdom's positive image and its exceptional ability to manage the largest human gatherings in the world simultaneously within a limited geographical area. This ongoing success makes the Saudi experience a global model to be emulated in crowd management and complex logistics.
Integrating the transportation system to serve pilgrims through air gateways
In terms of air transport, the transportation system dedicated its operational capacity at six major airports to serve pilgrims, receiving more than 1.5 million pilgrims arriving from outside the Kingdom. The relevant sectors provided more than 3 million seats across 104 airlines connecting the Kingdom to over 300 airports worldwide. The Minister also announced the expansion of the "No Luggage" initiative to include all international pilgrims, coinciding with preparations to transport more than 3.8 million bottles of Zamzam water to facilitate their return journey.
Advanced train network to connect the holy sites
In the rail transport sector, the system has provided two million seats on the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which operates more than 5,300 trips at speeds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour, connecting Mecca and Medina. Al-Jasser explained that the Holy Sites Train serves pilgrims with 2,000 trips across nine stations over seven days, with a massive capacity of up to 72,000 passengers per hour, effectively contributing to reducing traffic congestion.
A huge land fleet and modern road cooling technologies
Regarding land transportation, the Ministry implemented extensive maintenance plans covering more than 6,000 kilometers of roads leading to the Holy Sites, along with the innovative expansion of road cooling technology to reduce temperatures. The Ministry supported its operations with a massive fleet of over 33,000 buses and 5,000 taxis. The system manages transportation within the Holy Sites with high efficiency, allocating 3,000 buses to transport pilgrims from their accommodations to the Grand Mosque, 5,000 buses for shuttle services, and 2,000 buses to ensure direct connections between Mina and the Grand Mosque during the days of Tashreeq.
Logistical support and continuous supply chain movement
On the maritime and logistical front, the minister explained that Saudi ports receive approximately 6,000 pilgrims and support the flow of supplies by handling 1.25 million tons of goods and more than 2.6 million head of livestock. He added that the postal and logistics sector provides services to 55,000 pilgrims, handles 600,000 bags, and processes more than 200,000 official postal items.
Highest safety standards to ensure the comfort of pilgrims
Al-Jasser concluded by emphasizing that every road paved and every vehicle prepared is a tangible embodiment of the wise leadership's directives and its commitment to providing the utmost comfort for the pilgrims. He stressed the continuation of round-the-clock field operations through the command and control centers to ensure the highest standards of safety and smooth movement of the millions of pilgrims.
