Jeddah: Deputy Governor of Makkah Region and Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz inspected the Makkah Route Initiative lounge at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, where he was briefed on procedures and efforts to facilitate pilgrims' entry and provide high-quality services.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the Makkah Route Initiative provides services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries by completing entry procedures in their home countries. This includes biometric capture, electronic Hajj visa issuance, and luggage coding, allowing pilgrims to board dedicated buses directly to their residences upon arrival.

Now in its eighth year, the initiative is implemented by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with several government entities, with stc Group as the technical partner. Since its launch in 2017, it has served 1,254,994 pilgrims.