Latest news with #MakkahRoute
Arab News
6 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Makkah Route Initiative: Enhancing the experience for once-in-a-lifetime journey
RIYADH: The Makkah Route Initiative by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior aims to make the once-in-a-lifetime journey easy for foreign pilgrims by enhancing their Hajj experience. Now in its seventh year, the initiative is carried out by the ministry as part of the Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program. The ministry recently announced that more than 1 million pilgrims have benefited from the initiative since its launch, reaffirming the Kingdom's commitment to serving Hajj pilgrims. Established in 2018 and activated in 2019, the initiative enables pilgrims to complete their entry procedures to Saudi Arabia at their home countries' airports. Upon arrival in the Kingdom, pilgrims and their luggage are directly transported to their accommodation in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, avoiding long lines and wait times at the airport. Pilgrims arriving under the initiative spend only a few minutes at the Saudi immigration counters. • Makkah Route Initiative enables pilgrims to complete their entry procedures to Saudi Arabia at their home countries' airports. • Pilgrims arriving under the initiative spend only a few minutes at the Saudi immigration counters. It includes dedicated lounges at 12 airports in eight countries — Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Morocco, the Maldives and Cote d'Ivoire. Malaysian pilgrim Hasna Hamza, who arrived for her pilgrimage last week, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Saudi government for facilitating the journey. Aged 74, she described the process as 'smooth, respectful and deeply spiritual.' She completed her travel procedures in Kuala Lumpur — including biometric collection, health screening, passport validation and luggage processing. Upon arrival in Madinah, she and fellow pilgrims were swiftly transferred to their accommodation with their luggage. Naved Hasan, a Pakistani pilgrim told Arab News that the initiative enables pilgrims 'to be fully committed to performing one of their holiest duties with peace of mind.' Mohammed Mubarak, a Bangladeshi pilgrim, added: 'Completing all the necessary procedures before leaving my home country saved me a lot of time and stress.' The first group of 414 Bangladeshi pilgrims arrived at the Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on April 29. Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia M. Delwar Hossain welcomed them at the airport, and assured that the Bangladesh Embassy, Consulate and Bangladesh Hajj Mission were available to support them. The program, led by multilingual national teams and supported by advanced technology, ensures a smooth and spiritual experience for all pilgrims. Underscoring Saudi Arabia's commitment to pilgrims through the Makkah Route Initiative, Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Dr. Sami Al-Saleh said the initiative 'streamlines Hajj procedures and ensures a peaceful journey for pilgrims traveling from their home countries to the Kingdom.' Al-Saleh added that the widely embraced initiative in Morocco enables pilgrims to fulfill all travel procedures at Mohammed V International Airport in their home country. Saudi Arabia launched the Makkah Route Initiative in the Maldives this week, making it the eighth country to benefit. Officially inaugurating the initiative at Velana International Airport in Male on Monday, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu presented the passport to the first pilgrim from a group of 234. The ministries of media, health and Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia run campaigns through social media to provide all the necessary information. The Ministry of Hajj has reiterated that all intending to perform Hajj must obtain an official permit through the 'Nusuk' platform, in technical integration with the unified digital platform for Hajj permits, 'Tasreeh.' The ministry emphasized that compliance with regulations is essential to protect the safety and well-being of pilgrims, and to ensure a smooth and secure Hajj experience. In an official statement, the ministry stressed that no separate visa category — other than the official Hajj visa — grants its holder the right to perform Hajj. Hefty fines up to SR100,000 ($26,000) will be enforced for anyone attempting to perform Hajj without the necessary visa. The Makkah Route Initiative is run in coordination with several government entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and Ministry of Media, the Saudi Data and AI Authority, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program and the General Directorate of Passports.
Arab News
6 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia launches Makkah Route Initiative in Maldives
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched its Makkah Route Initiative in the Maldives, making it the eighth country to benefit from the scheme. The other seven countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Morocco and the Ivory Coast. President of the Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the route at Velana International Airport in Male on Monday, in the presence of the Chairman of the Makkah Route Supervisory Committee Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, Minister of Islamic Affairs in the Maldives Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and several other officials. The President's Office posted on X: 'President Dr @MMuizzu officially inaugurates the Makkah Route Initiative, accompanied by first lady madam @sajidhaamohamed. 'The president presented the passport to the first pilgrim utilizing the Makkah Route Initiative, while the first lady presented the passport to the second pilgrim.' The first group of 234 Maldivian pilgrims left Male Airport under the initiative for Saudi Arabia. This is a tremendous honor for the Maldivian people. Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Maldives Minister of Islamic Affairs Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ali Saeed described the occasion as a proud moment for all Maldivians. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs in the Maldives said it noted that the positive changes initiated in Hajj affairs under Muizzu's administration were now coming to fruition, transforming the pilgrimage experience for Maldivian pilgrims. The minister said: 'This is a historic page in our efforts to ease and enhance the Hajj journey for our citizens.' Ali Saeed expressed sincere gratitude to Muizzu for his strong support and commitment to making the Makkah Route Initiative a reality for the Maldives. He further revealed that the inclusion of the Maldives in the Makkah Route Initiative was made possible through special exemptions granted by Saudi Arabia, with the personal approval of King Salman. 'This is a tremendous honor for the Maldivian people,' he added, recognizing the close and valued relationship between the two nations. The Makkah Route Initiative is designed to provide high-quality services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries by streamlining travel procedures in their home countries and facilitating the smooth and seamless completion of process at their designated embarkation points. This includes collecting biometric data, electronically issuing Hajj visas, completing passport procedures at the departure airport following health verification, coding and sorting luggage according to transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom, and transferring pilgrims to buses to their residences in Makkah and Madinah. Partner agencies are responsible for delivering the luggage to pilgrims' accommodation in the holy cities.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Zawya
Maldives becomes 8th country benefiting from "Makkah Route" Initiative
MALE — Saudi Arabia launched the "Makkah Route" Initiative in the Maldives on Monday, making it the eighth country to benefit from the initiative. The other countries are Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Côte d'Ivoire. Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the Makkah Route Initiative at Velana International Airport in Male in the presence of Chairman of the "Makkah Route" Supervisory Committee Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, Maldives Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Acting Chargé d'Affaires at the Saudi Embassy in the Maldives Fahad Al-Dosari. A high-level Saudi delegation, including officials from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as senior officials from the Maldivian government also attended the ceremony. The first group of 234 Maldivian pilgrims under the Makkah Route Initiative left the Male airport for Saudi Arabia. The "Makkah Route" Initiative focuses on facilitating the smooth and seamless completion of all travel procedures for pilgrims from beneficiary countries in their designated embarkation points. These include issuing Hajj visas electronically, taking biometrics, completing entry procedures to the Kingdom from the airport of the country of departure after verifying that the required health requirements are met. The process involves coding and sorting luggage according to transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom. The passengers are then transferred directly to buses to be transported to their residences in Makkah and Madinah. Partner agencies are responsible for the delivery of their luggage to buses and accommodation of the pilgrims. The Ministry of Interior is implementing the initiative for the seventh year in a row as part of the Doyof Al-Rahman Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. This initiative is being implemented in cooperation with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the General Authority for Endowments, the Doyof Al-Rahman Program, and the General Directorate of Passports. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Saudi Gazette
6 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Rabiah: Saudi Arabia receives over 1 million pilgrims from abroad
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said on Monday that Saudi Arabia has received more than one million pilgrims from various parts of the world through its ports. Among the pilgrims, 53 percent are male while the remaining 47 percent are females, he said while addressing the government Hajj press conference. The General Directorate of Passports announced on Monday that a total of 1,003,447 Hajj pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia from abroad through various air, land, and sea ports by the end of Sunday. Al-Rabiah said that 94 percent of pilgrims arrived from abroad by air, while 4.83 percent arrived by land ports, and approximately 0.5 percent arrived by sea. He noted that 249,400 pilgrims arrived through the "Makkah Route' Initiative. The minister said that pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom amidst an integrated system of care and services provided by the Kingdom, thanks to the unlimited support of the leadership. He emphasized that the ministry began preparations for the Hajj and Umrah season on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah 1445 AH, specifically at the end of the Hajj rituals last year. 'These preparations included submitting the preliminary arrangements document to various countries and organizing the largest Hajj conference and exhibition last January under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman with the participation of leaders from 87 countries around the world,' he said while noting that 78 extensive preparatory meetings were held with Hajj offices, which contributed to enhancing early preparedness. Al-Rabiah pointed out that the Hajj exhibition and conference contributed to documenting agreements and contracts between companies via the "Nusuk" platform, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for issuing visas. This would have a positive impact on the prices and quality of services provided to pilgrims. He noted that early preparations were conducted under the supervision of the Hajj Project Office (Hajj PMO), which is managed by the Doyof Al-Rahman program, one of the Vision 2030 programs. Al-Rabiah reviewed the efforts of the Hajj Project Office, confirming that it was able to complete 609 plans, including 6,200 tasks, in addition to organizing periodic meetings between all parties, the most recent of which was a meeting to enhance familiarity among Hajj field commanders last week. The minister also spoke about the digital transformation currently taking place in the Kingdom, particularly in Hajj and Umrah services. He reviewed several initiatives in this regard, including the "Nusuk Card," which provides advanced security and health features, ensuring pilgrims' easy movement and facilitating their entry into the Grand Mosque. The card also contains information about the pilgrim, their health status, and their housing. He emphasized that 1.4 million cards have been issued to date for pilgrims and Hajj system workers. Al-Rabiah aIso noted that this year will witness a comprehensive development of the Nusuk app, with the addition of 100 comprehensive services to enhance the Umrah and visitation experience. He explained that 30 new services have been added to the app specifically for the 2025 Hajj season, making it the best companion for pilgrims performing the rituals and obtaining various services. Regarding field preparations for the Hajj season, Al-Rabiah confirmed that the readiness of infrastructure and electricity networks has been verified, water pumping has been tested in camps, and extensive testing has been implemented in the areas of transportation and grouping. He also noted that housing has been inspected and equipped, and that the readiness of the staff working in the Hajj service system has been verified. The minister noted that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has conducted more than 37,000 inspections of various service providers, resulting in the identification of 3,400 observations that have been addressed. He emphasized that no shortcomings or negligence in Hajj service will be tolerated. He also emphasized the importance of the "No Hajj without a permit" initiative, which aims to ensure the safety of legal pilgrims, as using irregular routes to perform the Hajj pilgrimage puts the safety of those traveling through it at risk. He commended the roles played by various countries in combating fake Hajj campaigns.
Saudi Gazette
7 days ago
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Jalajel: No epidemic cases reported among pilgrims
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Minister of Health Fahd Al-Jalajel confirmed that no epidemic cases have been detected among pilgrims to date. Addressing the government Hajj conference in Makkah on Monday, he said that the bed capacity allotted for the Hajj season of 2025 has been increased by 60 percent compared to last year. Al-Jalajel said that the plans developed by the Supreme Hajj Committee ensure a suitable environment for Hajj. He emphasized the importance of adhering to these plans, ensuring adequate water and umbrellas during high temperatures, and avoiding crowds and long walks. The minister highlighted the importance of pilgrims adhering to preventative measures, grouping instructions, and wearing masks. He urged pilgrims not to hesitate to seek help and assistance in any condition of sickness. He reviewed the ministry's preparations for this year's Hajj, explaining that the ministry's services began simultaneously with the arrival of the first batch of pilgrims through the "Makkah Route" Initiative. Al-Jalajel said that a new emergency hospital with a capacity of 200 beds has been established in Mina. He noted that more than 50,000 health services have been provided to pilgrims across 14 ports. Three field hospitals with a total capacity of over 1,200 beds have also been equipped in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of National Guard. Regarding the technologies used to enhance the Hajj health system, Al-Jalajel confirmed that all hospitals are equipped with advanced technologies for all medical services. He also emphasized the use of technologies provided by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) for monitoring the number of pilgrims, temperatures, and other information. He explained that the SEHA app provides medical services and consultations to pilgrims at their residences, without the need to travel to hospitals. This is achieved through a direct connection to the SEHA Virtual Hospital. "Pilgrims suffering from critical conditions have been equipped with smart sensors to monitor their health conditions. These sensors are connected to the SEHA Virtual Hospital, which is the largest of its kind in the world," he said. Regarding efforts to deal with emergency cases, Al-Jalajel indicated that 11 air evacuation aircraft have been provided for emergency cases, in addition to 900 ambulances, and 71 first aid points staffed by more than 7,500 paramedics.
