Saudi Arabia received Thursday the first pilgrims' batch within the framework of Makkah Road Initiative which will include about 225,000 pilgrims from 5 countries.
Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced its readiness to receive pilgrims during this year’s season as part of an integrated operational plan to provide the best services necessary for them.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah will receive the first pilgrimage batches for this year.
GACA allocated all its capabilities and services to receive this year’s pilgrims through the Hajj and Umrah terminal at the International Airport in Jeddah.
The terminal covers about 230,000 square meters and includes 114 check-ins and 208 passport control, with the capacity to process about 48,000 arriving and departing passengers per day.
At the International Airport in Madinah, the General Authority set up travel halls of 156,000 square meters and a capacity of 45,000 passengers per day.
The Kingdom's preparations are part of a package of services to receive pilgrims after the Ministry of Interior announced the launch of Makkah Road Initiative, as the Saudi government is keen to upgrade the quality of services provided for pilgrims as part of Vision 2030.
It aims to improve services offered to Haj and Umrah pilgrims, enhance the efforts of government agencies in serving them and give the opportunity for the largest number of pilgrims to perform their rituals in comfort, ease and tranquility.
The services include customs and passport procedures, facilitating health requirements, as well as sorting luggage according to transportation and housing arrangements in Saudi Arabia.
More than 225,000 pilgrims at the airports in Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Tunisia, will benefit from this initiative and will experience complementary procedures at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
