Madinah: The first flights carrying beneficiaries of the 'Makkah Route Initiative' arrived today from Pakistan at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, via the initiative's terminal at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The initiative aims to streamline the journey for pilgrims by completing all entry requirements at the point of departure.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the Makkah Route Initiative facilitates the electronic issuance of Hajj visas, biometric data collection, and passport control. Furthermore, luggage is coded and sorted based on accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom, enabling pilgrims to bypass airport procedures upon arrival. This ensures a smooth transfer directly to their residences in Makkah and Madinah via designated bus routes.

Since its inception in 2017, the Makkah Route Initiative has serviced 1,254,994 pilgrims. This initiative is led by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the ministries of foreign affairs, health, hajj and umrah, and media, as well as 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. The stc group also partners as the digital enabler for the initiative.