Saudi Arabia Welcomes First Batch of Hajj Pilgrims

 A part of the massive reception held for Hajj 2024 pilgrims (SPA)
A part of the massive reception held for Hajj 2024 pilgrims (SPA)
TT

Saudi Arabia Welcomes First Batch of Hajj Pilgrims

 A part of the massive reception held for Hajj 2024 pilgrims (SPA)
A part of the massive reception held for Hajj 2024 pilgrims (SPA)

Saudi Arabia welcomed the first group of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj season, as well as participants of the “Makkah Road” initiative.

Arrivals from Bangladesh were received at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, while those from Türkiye and Pakistan were greeted at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the Madinah region.

Authorities at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah also welcomed the first group of pilgrims from Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq, and Consul General in Jeddah, Khalid Majid, greeted Pakistani pilgrims, totaling around 179,210 this year. About half will perform the rituals through the government, while the rest through private companies.

Saudi authorities are committed to easing entry for pilgrims by upgrading ports with the latest technology and qualified staff. Flights from Malaysia and Türkiye, part of the Makkah Road initiative, are arriving within hours.

The company handling pilgrims from non-Arab African countries welcomed the first group from South Africa, comprising 49 pilgrims.

Pilgrims in Makkah were warmly welcomed by a team from “Ithraa Al-Khair Company for Pilgrims Services” which presented them with commemorative gifts.

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry is continuing its “Makkah Road” initiative for the sixth year, part of the Kingdom’s national transformation plan, “Vision 2030,” with designated halls in 11 airports across 7 countries: Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Türkiye, and Ivory Coast.

The aim of the initiative is to provide smooth transportation for pilgrims from these countries to the Kingdom, including electronic Hajj visa issuance, biometric data collection, and streamlined entry procedures.

Baggage is handled and sorted, and pilgrims are directly transported to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah via dedicated routes, while partner agencies manage luggage delivery.



UAE Expresses Deep Concern over Escalating Violence in Sudan

UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates May 22, 2015. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates May 22, 2015. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
TT

UAE Expresses Deep Concern over Escalating Violence in Sudan

UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates May 22, 2015. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates May 22, 2015. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo

UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan has expressed the UAE’s deep concern over violence in Sudan, particularly against women, children, and the elderly in Al Jazirah state, which resulted in the killing and wounding of a number of innocent civilians, state news agency WAM reported.

He underlined that the UAE is alarmed by reports of sexual violence against women and girls, the high risk of famine, and the continued suffering and displacement of thousands of civilians.

Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan called on the Sudanese warring parties to return to dialogue, respect their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and the mechanisms proposed by the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) related to facilitating safe, urgent, and unhindered access to humanitarian aid. His also underscored the necessity for all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law.

The Minister emphasised the importance of protecting civilians according to international humanitarian law, and the need to ensure that they are not targeted during conflict.

In this regard, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan reaffirmed the UAE’s unwavering position in calling for an immediate ceasefire, stressing its support for efforts to achieve national consensus toward forming a civilian-led government, in a way that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people for development and prosperity.