Abidjan: The first flight carrying beneficiaries of the Makkah Route Initiative departed today from Abidjan, C´te d'Ivoire, via the initiative's terminal at F©lix Houphou«t-Boigny International Airport, en route to the Kingdom through Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the initiative aims to provide high-quality services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries by receiving them and completing their procedures in their home countries, making the process smooth and easy. These services include collecting biometric data, issuing Hajj visas electronically, completing passport procedures at the departure airport after verifying health requirements, and coding and sorting luggage according to transport and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom.

Pilgrims then proceed directly through dedicated routes to buses that take them to their accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, while partner agencies deliver their luggage.