Ministry of Interior has announced the successful conclusion of the Makkah Route Initiative for the 2026 Hajj season after serving more than 388,000 pilgrims arriving from 10 countries through 17 international departure points, marking one of the Kingdom’s largest technology-driven pilgrim service programs.
According to official figures, the initiative facilitated the arrival of 388,694 pilgrims through 1,227 flights after completing entry procedures before departure from their home countries, significantly reducing processing times upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.
The Makkah Route Initiative is one of the flagship projects under Saudi Vision 2030 through the Pilgrims Experience Program, aiming to streamline and enhance the pilgrimage journey through an integrated government ecosystem.
This year’s edition expanded to include Senegal and Brunei Darussalam, joining Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Maldives among participating countries.
The initiative utilized advanced infrastructure featuring 38 service stations, 60 mobile units, and 120 AI-powered smart counters, enabling authorities to complete procedures for each pilgrim in approximately 40 seconds before departure.
Services included electronic visa issuance, biometric registration, health verification, and passport processing, allowing pilgrims arriving in Jeddah and Madinah to bypass traditional immigration and baggage procedures and proceed directly to dedicated transportation services.
Authorities also ensured that pilgrims’ luggage was transported directly to their accommodation, further improving convenience and enhancing the overall Hajj experience.
The initiative was implemented by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with several government entities, including the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media, as part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to modernize Hajj operations and elevate services provided to pilgrims from around the world.
