Madinah: The first flight carrying pilgrims from Senegal as part of the Makkah Route Initiative arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. These pilgrims traveled from Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the Makkah Route Initiative ensures a seamless journey for pilgrims by completing all entry requirements at the point of departure. This includes the electronic issuance of Hajj visas, biometric data collection, and passport control. Moreover, luggage is coded and sorted based on accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom, allowing pilgrims to skip airport procedures upon arrival. They are then transported directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah via designated bus routes.
Since its inception in 2017, the initiative has served a total of 1,254,994 pilgrims. It is led by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with several other ministries, including foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media. The initiative also involves the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and the General Directorate of Passports. Additionally, the stc Group plays a role as the digital enabler of the initiative.