- The Cross Route Club began its journey in Lahore on January 6 and arrived in the holy city on January 28.
- The reception held at the Ministry of Sports office in Mecca was attended by the Consul General of Pakistan, other local authorities, and high-ranking officials.
A group of 25 Pakistani bikers arrived on their motorcycles in Mecca after traveling for 22 days and covering 14,000 km from Pakistan through Iran and the UAE.
The group began its journey in Lahore on January 6 and arrived in the holy city on January 28. The group, called Cross Route Club, plans to stay in Saudi Arabia for 19 days.
The bikers decided to undertake the trip after the Saudi Arabian government announced that foreign guests wishing to perform Umrah could extend their visa validity to up to three months, allowing them to use the travel permit to visit cities other than Mecca.
Arab News met with club members in Mecca during their special reception hosted at the Ministry of Sports office in the city, which was attended by Pakistan's Press Counselor Syed Hamza Gilani and other local authorities and high-ranking officials.
Aun Muhammad Khan, a lawyer and member of the Cross Route Club, told Arab News that while in Mecca to perform Umrah, the group sought to promote peace, brotherhood, and friendship, as well as to explore Saudi Arabia during their stay.
Khan said the idea for the trip came from Mukarram Tarin, chairman of the Cross Route Club. «We were supposed to perform Umrah by traveling to Mecca from Lahore on motorcycles in 2019, but due to the coronavirus pandemic our plan was postponed,» he said. «As soon as we had the first opportunity, we managed it.
«Culturally, Saudi Arabia is a very diverse and vast nation, and for Muslims it is the most important place on Earth. The Crown Prince's (Mohammed bin Salman's) vision for tourism is key for us. We are responding to his call to come and explore Saudi Arabia.».
Khan said that for them, as bikers, the trip was paradise, as they were able to ride along long roads and beautiful landscapes.
He thanked the people of Saudi Arabia for their generosity and warm hospitality. «We received an excellent welcome here, and whenever we go out on our motorcycles… the support and love that we are receiving right now is simply incredible,» he said.
Mohammed Suhail Akhtar, who specializes in training development in Pakistan and is an active member of the Cross Route Club, said: «This is a magnificent experience, and for me it is one of the best adventures I have ever experienced on my motorcycle, because we had the opportunity to meet local people from different countries and at the same time explore local cities in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE.».
Akhtar, who had previously traveled to Saudi Arabia by plane in 2009, expressed his satisfaction with the enormous transformations that have taken place in the Kingdom since his last visit. «Everything has really changed, and we noticed it from the moment we arrived at the Saudi Arabian border,» he said.
The group plans to visit tourist sites in the Kingdom to promote tourism opportunities in Saudi Arabia, which is one of the main pillars of «Saudi Vision 2030.».
After a 19-day stay in the Kingdom, the motorcycle convoy will head home through Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Iran.