Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has introduced the Makkah Route Initiative, a strategic program designed to ease the pilgrimage process and improve the overall Hajj experience for foreign pilgrims. The initiative enables pilgrims to complete essential immigration, customs, and health formalities in their home countries before arriving in Saudi Arabia, significantly reducing wait times upon arrival.
Under the Makkah Route Initiative, participating countries’ airports conduct biometric data collection, electronic Hajj visa issuance, passport processing, health screening, and luggage tagging. This pre-clearance system allows pilgrims to proceed directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah without undergoing lengthy airport procedures in Saudi Arabia.
Since its launch, the initiative has expanded to 12 airports across eight countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Morocco, the Maldives, and Côte d’Ivoire. Over one million pilgrims have benefited from the program, which is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program aimed at leveraging technology and logistics to enhance pilgrimage services.
The recent inclusion of the Maldives marks a significant milestone for the initiative, further strengthening Saudi Arabia’s commitment to providing a seamless, safe, and dignified pilgrimage experience for Muslims worldwide. Officials say the program’s success reflects strong bilateral cooperation and the kingdom’s dedication to facilitating one of Islam’s most important spiritual journeys.
Pilgrims who have used the Makkah Route Initiative have praised its efficiency and the respectful treatment received, describing the process as a major improvement over previous years. Saudi authorities continue to expand and refine the initiative to ensure every pilgrim’s journey is smooth and spiritually fulfilling.
