Over 150,000 Pilgrims Have Arrived in Saudi Arabia Via Makkah Route Initiative

Over 150,000 Pilgrims Have Arrived in Saudi Arabia Via Makkah Route Initiative
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Over 150,000 Pilgrims Have Arrived in Saudi Arabia Via Makkah Route Initiative

Over 150,000 Pilgrims Have Arrived in Saudi Arabia Via Makkah Route Initiative

In cooperation with partner agencies, the Saudi Ministry of the Interior continues implementing the Makkah Route initiative which saw more than 150,000 Pilgrims arriving to the Kingdom so far.

The intiative aims to provide services for pilgrims coming from seven countries including Morocco, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Türkiye and Côte d'Ivoire, as one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Makkah Route initiative aims to complete the pilgrim procedures from their countries, starting with the issuance of electronic visas and collection of vital information, followed by streamlined passport procedures in the departure country's airport.

These steps are fulfilled after verifying the availability of health requirements, in addition to coding and sorting luggage according to transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Upon their arrival, pilgrims go directly to buses to take them to their places of residence in Makkah and Madinah, with designated tracks, while service agencies deliver their luggage to their places of residence.



Qatar's Emir Makes Cabinet Reshuffle

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. QNA
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. QNA
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Qatar's Emir Makes Cabinet Reshuffle

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. QNA
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. QNA

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday appointed the CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Mansour Ibrahim al-Mahmoud, as the country's next minister of health.

The Emir appointed Mohammed Saif Saeed al Suwaidi as QIA's next CEO.

As part of Tuesday's cabinet shuffle, Qatar's Emir also appointed Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani as the country's new minister of commerce and industry.
Sheikh Faisal is QIA's chief of Asia-Pacific and Africa investments and the chairman of Qatari telecoms group Ooredoo. It is unclear if he will remain in those roles.
The Emir appointed Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater as the new education minister. She served previously as minister of state for international cooperation and led Qatar's global humanitarian efforts, especially in Gaza and Lebanon.