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.



Arab, Islamic, African Mechanism Established to Support Palestinian Cause

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
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Arab, Islamic, African Mechanism Established to Support Palestinian Cause

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)

The Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the African Union (AU) signed a tripartite agreement on Monday to support the Palestinian cause, during the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh.

The move was praised by the summit, especially for the African Union’s strong position on the issue.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the mechanism will be coordinated through the organizations’ secretariats. Representatives will meet regularly to align their positions and strengthen their influence in international forums.

Joint coordination meetings will be held soon to finalize the details of the agreement.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan welcomed the cooperation, noting that the three organizations will now speak with one voice internationally, instead of through individual bilateral talks.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit added that while Arab-African and Arab-Islamic cooperation already exists, this is the first time an agreement has united the three organizations on this issue.

He said the agreement will expand cooperation and set a clear strategy moving forward.