HE Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, visited the "Makkah Route" initiative lounge at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, where he received one of the flights of the initiative's beneficiaries arriving via Kuala Lumpur International Airport and reviewed the procedures and services provided to the Guests of God.

The visit was part of following up on efforts to ease the pilgrims' journey and speed up their procedures through an integrated system that ensures high-quality services from their arrival in the Kingdom.

Simplified Procedures and Faster Service

During the tour the minister reviewed the working mechanisms inside the lounge, designed to complete procedures in record time and offer pilgrims an easy experience that lets them perform their rituals with ease.

These efforts reflect the relevant bodies' commitment to developing services for the Guests of God and improving the experience of travel and arrival at the holy sites.

An Integrated System Starting in the Country of Departure

The Makkah Route initiative is one of the leading initiatives offering integrated services to pilgrims in their home countries before they arrive in the Kingdom, from recording biometric data and issuing the Hajj visa electronically to completing passport procedures at departure airports.

The initiative also includes coding and sorting luggage according to transport and housing arrangements, letting pilgrims move directly to their accommodation in Makkah and Madinah along dedicated routes while partner bodies deliver their luggage.

Broad Government Cooperation for the Guests of God

The Ministry of Interior is implementing the initiative in its eighth year in cooperation with a number of government bodies, including the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, and Hajj and Umrah, along with the Saudi Data and AI Authority and the General Directorate of Passports, in integration with technology partner stc group.

More than 1.25 million pilgrims have benefited from the initiative since its launch in 2017, an indicator of its success in improving the experience of the Guests of God and developing the services provided to them.

At a Glance

  • Location: King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah
  • Date: 5 May 2026
  • Initiative: Makkah Route
  • Beneficiaries: pilgrims arriving from several countries, including Malaysia
  • Total served: more than 1.25 million pilgrims since 2017