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Saudi Entry Points Enhance Pilgrim Experience with Technology, Efficiency

Pilgrims arrive via King Abdulaziz International Airport (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Pilgrims arrive via King Abdulaziz International Airport (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Entry Points Enhance Pilgrim Experience with Technology, Efficiency

Pilgrims arrive via King Abdulaziz International Airport (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Pilgrims arrive via King Abdulaziz International Airport (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Pilgrims from around the world are arriving in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage, supported by a system of updated procedures and technologies designed to enhance their experience.

This system aims to ease their journey between Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah, and ensure a smooth stay at the holy sites.

The main entry points for these pilgrims are King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah.

These airports are crucial entry points for the nearly 1.5 million pilgrims. Last year’s Hajj season saw 1.6 million international pilgrims flocking to holy sites in the Kingdom.

They benefit from high-quality services and fast entry procedures thanks to modern technology.

Saudi Arabia is improving Hajj services with its “Makkah Route” initiative, led by the Ministry of Interior.

Now in its sixth year, this program has expanded from one to seven countries and is expected to grow further. The initiative offers high-quality transport services for pilgrims, making their journey smoother from their home countries to Saudi Arabia.

The Makkah Route simplifies the process by handling steps such as electronic visa issuance and biometric data collection in the pilgrims’ home countries.

The General Directorate of Passports ensures all entry requirements, including health checks, are met at the departure airport.

Luggage is tagged and sorted based on travel and accommodation plans in Saudi Arabia. Pilgrims then take buses directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah, with partner agencies delivering their luggage.

Col. Maher Al Masoud, Director of Passports at King Abdulaziz International Airport, told Asharq Al-Awsat that they receive numerous flights daily, including those from the “Makkah Route” initiative.

This year, the initiative supports pilgrims from seven countries and 11 cities. Each year, the program is reviewed to improve its services based on feedback.

He explained that the “Makkah Route” program handles all travel procedures for pilgrims both in their home countries and upon arrival at King Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammad airports.

Pilgrims then go directly to transportation and their accommodations. Starting with one country, the initiative now includes seven and aims to expand further, ensuring a comfortable and safe journey for all pilgrims.

Al Masoud added that the program uses e-systems for issuing Hajj visas and completing arrival procedures in the pilgrims' home countries, including necessary vaccinations.

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Etidal, Telegram Remove 30 Million Extremist Posts in Q2 2025

Etidal signals Saudi Arabia’s resolve to combat terrorism on all fronts (Etidal)
Etidal signals Saudi Arabia’s resolve to combat terrorism on all fronts (Etidal)
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Etidal, Telegram Remove 30 Million Extremist Posts in Q2 2025

Etidal signals Saudi Arabia’s resolve to combat terrorism on all fronts (Etidal)
Etidal signals Saudi Arabia’s resolve to combat terrorism on all fronts (Etidal)

Saudi Arabia’s Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, said on Monday that its joint efforts with Telegram led to the removal of more than 30.8 million pieces of extremist content and the shutdown of over 1,200 extremist channels during the second quarter of 2025.

The operation, carried out in April, May and June, is part of ongoing cooperation between the Riyadh-based center and the messaging platform to curb what both describe as “digital extremism.”

According to information seen by Asharq Al-Awsat, total removals since the partnership began in February 2022 have surpassed 207.6 million extremist items, with 17,455 channels and groups shut down.

Both parties say the collaboration reflects a continued commitment to creating a safer online environment and tackling radical propaganda.

The bulk of the removals came in June 2025, when around 18 million extremist items were taken down and 643 channels closed. In April, about 1.2 million posts were removed and 110 channels shut, while May saw 11.6 million removals and 501 closures.

These posts reportedly included messages promoting violence, hatred, and radical ideologies.

Telegram, which has long faced scrutiny over its use by extremist groups, said in a July update on its website that it has had a “zero tolerance policy for calls to violence and terrorist propaganda since 2016.” The platform publishes daily transparency reports and said its efforts to tackle extremist ideologies had been significantly bolstered through its partnership with Etidal.

It added that more than 100 million terrorism-related posts had been removed in cooperation with Etidal alone, with a peak in February 2025, when 3,851 groups were blocked in a single day.

Telegram also revealed that more than 134,000 terrorism-linked groups have been banned so far this year.

In the first quarter of 2025, the Etidal-Telegram partnership removed 16 million extremist posts and shut down 1,408 channels linked to extremist groups.

Etidal and Telegram expanded their joint operations on February 21, 2022, focusing on preventing extremist propaganda from reaching digital audiences.

The center said it remains committed to working with regional and international partners to develop advanced tools to counter evolving tactics used by radical groups.

Despite ongoing removals, Etidal warned that terrorist organizations continue to use redirect links and evasion tactics to bypass digital monitoring. In the first quarter alone, more than 1.2 million such links were identified and taken down.

Dr. Yousef Al-Rumeih, a security adviser and professor of counterterrorism at Qassim University, told Asharq Al-Awsat that recent months had seen renewed online activity by extremist groups. He called for greater digital and cybersecurity awareness, especially among youth, to counter their influence.

He stressed the importance of three layers of protection—official cybersecurity surveillance, community and family-level monitoring, and individual vigilance—to confront extremist messaging. “Reporting suspicious links to authorities is key to limiting their reach,” he said.

Founded in May 2017 by Saudi King Salman in the presence of US President Donald Trump and leaders from 55 nations, Etidal has spent eight years spearheading efforts to counter radical ideologies.

The center says it has prevented millions of extremist posts and links from reaching the public and shared its expertise with over 78 countries through international cooperation and technical visits to its Riyadh headquarters.