First Flight of Makkah Route Initiative Pilgrims Departs from Malé

Riyadh: The first flight carrying pilgrims benefiting from the Makkah Route Initiative for Hajj 1447 AH departed today from Malé in the Republic of Maldives to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via the initiative's terminal at Velana International Airport, heading to King Abdulaziz International Airport. The departure took place in the presence of Maldivian Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Saudi Ambassador to the Maldives Yahya Al-Qahtani. According to Saudi Press Agency, the initiative aims to provide services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries by receiving them and completing their procedures in their home countries. Services begin with biometric enrollment and the electronic issuance of Hajj visas, followed by the completion of passport procedures at the departure airport after verifying compliance with health requirements. The process also includes luggage coding and sorting in line with transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom. It enables pi lgrims to proceed directly to buses designated to transport them to their residences in Makkah and Madinah regions via dedicated routes, while partner entities handle the delivery of their luggage. The Ministry of Interior is implementing the initiative in its eighth year in cooperation with the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media, in addition to 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, in integration with digital partner stc Group. Since its launch in 2017, the initiative has served 1,254,994 pilgrims.