The Makkah Route Initiative reaches Brunei to facilitate the journey of pilgrims

Expanding services to include pilgrims from Brunei Darussalam

In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to facilitating the Hajj pilgrimage for the guests of God, the “Makkah Route” initiative was launched at Brunei International Airport. The launch ceremony took place on Monday in the presence of high-ranking officials from both countries, including His Excellency the Minister of Religious Affairs of Brunei, Haji Badaruddin bin Haji Othman; His Excellency the Advisor to His Royal Highness the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Makkah Route Initiative, Lieutenant General Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahya; and His Excellency the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Brunei Darussalam, Mr. Saleh bin Abdulkarim Al-Shiha.

What is the Makkah Route Initiative? Background and Objectives

The Makkah Route Initiative is a pioneering initiative of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, falling under the Guests of God Service Program, a key component of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Launched in 1438 AH (2017 CE), its primary objective is to enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims by streamlining their entry procedures at their departure airports. These procedures include issuing electronic Hajj visas, collecting biometric data (fingerprints), and verifying compliance with health requirements. The initiative also involves tagging and sorting pilgrims' luggage in their country of departure, allowing it to be transported directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah without waiting at the airport.

Direct impact on the pilgrim experience

Thanks to this initiative, pilgrims benefiting from it bypass the long queues at the Kingdom's arrival airports. Upon landing, they are transferred directly to dedicated buses to transport them to their accommodations, while their luggage is delivered to them by the relevant authorities. This procedure saves pilgrims, especially the elderly, hours of effort and waiting, enabling them to begin their spiritual journey with comfort, peace of mind, and greater focus on performing the rituals.

Global expansion and strategic partnership

The initiative began as a pilot program in two countries and has gradually expanded to include eight countries today: Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, Bangladesh, Turkey, Côte d'Ivoire, and now Brunei Darussalam. This expansion reflects the initiative's significant success and international recognition of Saudi Arabia's efforts. It is implemented in collaboration with several Saudi ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Ministry of Media, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the General Authority of Zakat and Tax, the General Authority of Customs, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), thus embodying the integration of national efforts to serve the pilgrims. Since its launch, more than 1.25 million pilgrims have benefited from the initiative's services, a figure that demonstrates its effectiveness and importance.

Regional and international importance

The launch of the “Makkah Route” in Brunei not only strengthens bilateral relations between the two countries but also reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a leader in crowd management and the provision of innovative logistics services on a global scale. The initiative also sets a model for international cooperation in facilitating cross-border travel and underscores the pivotal role of technology in enhancing the Hajj experience, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the ambitious Vision 2030.