The Saudi Ministry of Interior launched its fourth «Makkah Route» initiative to facilitate the Hajj journey of pilgrims and ensure high-quality service.
It also aims to ensure compliance with all health requirements in the target countries before the issuance of an entry visa to the Kingdom.
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.
This is part of the «Guests of God» service program in Saudi Arabia, which King Salman launched in 2019 and which aims to provide visitors to the holy sites with the best possible services to help them perform the Hajj rituals with ease and comfort.
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.