The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched today Makkah Route initiative in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire at Abidjan International Airport, in the presence of Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the initiative and Director General of Passports, Lieutenant General Suleiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahy, Saudi Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire Saad bin Bakheat Al-Qathami, several senior officials of Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, along with members of the supervisory committee of the initiative.
The Makkah Route initiative aims to receive the pilgrims and complete their procedures from their countries with ease. The process begins with the issuance of electronic visas and collection of vital information, followed by streamlined passport procedures in the departure country's airport.
These steps are fulfilled after verifying the availability of health requirements, in addition to coding and sorting luggage according to transportation and accomodation arrangements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon their arrival, they go directly to buses to take them to their places of residence in Makkah and Madinah, with designated tracks, while service agencies deliver their luggage to their places of residence.
Ministry of the Interior implements the initiative in seven countries this year 2023, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Türkiye, and Côte d'Ivoire, with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), Pilgrim Experience Program (PEP) and the General Directorate of Passports.
Source: Saudi Press Agency