Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior has announced the successful conclusion of the Makkah Route Initiative for the 1447 AH Hajj season. Operating across 17 ports in 10 countries, the programme pre-cleared 388,694 pilgrims and flew them into the Kingdom aboard 1,227 dedicated flights, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The initiative is a flagship component of the Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030. Its aim is simple: move the paperwork of arrival out of crowded Saudi airports and into the pilgrim's home country, so that travellers step off the plane and go straight to their accommodation.

How the initiative works

The Makkah Route Initiative shifts immigration processing to the point of departure. Before a pilgrim boards, Saudi teams stationed at the home airport complete a full set of procedures. These include electronic issuance of the Hajj visa, collection of biometric data, verification of health requirements, and final passport control.

Luggage is handled at the same stage. Each bag is sorted, coded, and tagged according to the pilgrim's housing arrangements in Saudi Arabia. When the flight lands at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah or Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, pilgrims bypass the usual immigration queues and baggage carousels. They board dedicated buses directly to their accommodation, and authorities deliver their luggage straight to their rooms.

The Ministry of Interior reported that entry procedures were completed for each pilgrim in around 40 seconds before departure. This was made possible by 38 service stations, 60 mobile units, and 120 AI-powered mobile counters deployed across the participating airports.

Two new countries join

This year the initiative expanded to include Senegal and Brunei Darussalam for the first time. They join the existing group of participating nations: Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Cote d'Ivoire, and the Maldives.

The addition brings the total to 10 countries operating across 17 airports. The steady growth of the programme since its launch reflects a wider push to smooth the arrival experience for the millions who travel to perform the pilgrimage each year.

A coordinated national effort

Now in its eighth year, the Makkah Route Initiative is implemented by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media. Additional partners include the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the General Authority for Awqaf, the General Directorate of Passports, and digital partner stc group.

The scale of coordination points to how central pilgrim logistics have become to Saudi planning. Arrival bottlenecks were once among the most difficult parts of the journey. By moving the process upstream, authorities have removed a large share of the waiting and confusion that used to greet pilgrims on landing.

Practical tips for pilgrims

If you are travelling from one of the 10 participating countries, there are a few things worth keeping in mind:

  • Arrive early at your home airport. The pre-clearance process, including biometrics and passport control, happens before departure, so allow extra time.
  • Carry your documents in order. Have your visa paperwork, health certificates, and identification ready so the checks move quickly.
  • Label your luggage clearly. Although bags are coded to your housing, clear personal labels help if anything needs to be traced.
  • Follow the dedicated bus system. On arrival, look for the Makkah Route counters and buses rather than heading to the standard immigration halls.
  • Confirm your accommodation details in advance. Since luggage is delivered to your room, make sure your housing information is accurate before you fly.

For pilgrims from countries not yet in the programme, the continued expansion offers hope that the service may reach more nations in future seasons.