Pilgrims from Malaysia and Indonesia performing the Hajj arrived in Medina on Thursday as part of this year's «Mecca Route» initiative.
They were received at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport by representatives of the initiative's sponsoring agencies.
The initiative is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, the Pilgrim Experience Program, Saudi Passports, and the Saudi digital security company Elm Co.
On Wednesday, the first group of Makkah Route pilgrims from Pakistan landed in Madinah, where they were received by the director of the Madinah passport department, Major General Khalid Al-Otaibi, and representatives of the initiative.
Prior to that, 2022 Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. They had earlier passed through the special Makkah Route waiting hall at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki stated that this initiative has simplified travel procedures for pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals.
«This initiative also helps improve the services provided to pilgrims in a manner that reflects the Kingdom's leading role in serving Muslims from all corners of the world. It also ensures comfort for pilgrims and helps them perform their rituals peacefully before they return to their countries. The initiative, which is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 program, represents a great success in serving pilgrims, to which King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman give special attention and care,« said Al-Malki.
The Malaysians departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Wednesday evening through the initiative's waiting hall. Indonesian pilgrims departed Jakarta International Airport late Wednesday evening. They were seen off by some Saudi and Indonesian officials.
Saudi Arabia's Minister Plenipotentiary at its embassy in Indonesia, Abdullah Mukid Al-Mutairi, said that the pilgrims are traveling for Hajj under this initiative for the third time.
«The initiative aims to facilitate the entry of pilgrims into the Kingdom. I would like to thank the Indonesian government for their kind assistance to the Makkah Route initiative.«.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior launched its fourth Makkah Route initiative to simplify the Hajj journey for pilgrims and provide them with high-quality services. The initiative aims to ensure compliance with all health requirements in the target countries before issuing an entry visa to the Kingdom.
It includes the issuance of visas, ensuring compliance with health requirements, as well as coding and sorting baggage at airports in the countries of residence of the pilgrims. Five countries are participating in the initiative: Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, and Bangladesh.
Pilgrims arriving from these countries can bypass entry procedures upon arrival in the Kingdom, proceed directly to the buses waiting for them, and reach their place of residence in Mecca and Medina. Their baggage is processed and delivered directly to them at their accommodation.
Saudi Arabia has allowed up to 1 million people to participate in the Hajj this year, who must be under 65 years of age and fully vaccinated against COVID-19, inviting pilgrims from other countries for the first time after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, during which the annual pilgrimage was limited to residents of the Kingdom.