Makkah: The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed paramount importance on serving pilgrims, reflecting a sustained strategy to facilitate their journeys and elevate the quality of services provided to them. This unwavering commitment inspired the Makkah Route Initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Interior under the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the core pillars of Saudi Vision 2030. Launched in 2017, the initiative harnesses all available resources to streamline the Hajj journey directly from the pilgrims' home countries. Operating within an integrated ecosystem involving multiple relevant authorities, the initiative ensures the pilgrimage is seamless and safe for all beneficiaries.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the Makkah Route Initiative reflects the profound dedication of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to dedicating all human, material, and technological capabilities toward serving pilgrims and providing them with an accessible, spiritually enriching experience.
Since the initiative's inception, the Ministry of Interior has been devoted to serving its beneficiaries by delivering high-quality services to pilgrims before they even board their flights. These streamlined procedures facilitate their arrival in the Kingdom to perform their Hajj rituals with unparalleled ease and peace of mind. This comprehensive approach ensures that pilgrims enjoy a spiritually uplifting journey from the moment they enter the initiative's dedicated terminals until their safe return home.
Continuing to achieve significant milestones, the initiative recorded over 1.2 million total beneficiaries by its seventh year, 2025. This massive undertaking highlights the Kingdom's advanced digital capabilities and highly qualified personnel. This year, 2026, the initiative expanded to include two new beneficiary countries: Senegal and Brunei Darussalam. This brings the total number of participating countries to 10, served through 17 international ports of entry, further underscoring the initiative's immense global impact.
To achieve this scale, the initiative utilizes modern digital technologies supported by artificial intelligence to significantly expedite departure procedures. These advanced systems are deployed at the initiative's dedicated airport terminals across Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, C´te d'Ivoire, and Maldives, alongside the newly integrated terminals in Senegal and Brunei Darussalam.