SDAIA provides technical support for the Makkah Route Initiative in 10 countries to serve pilgrims

Ongoing efforts to serve the guests of God

The Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) continues its pioneering efforts in harnessing technology to serve pilgrims, announcing its comprehensive technical support for the “Makkah Route” initiative. This initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with several government entities, is now in its eighth year as part of the Pilgrim Service Program, one of the key programs of Saudi Vision 2030. This support covers 10 countries through 17 international entry points during the 1447 AH Hajj season, reflecting the wise leadership’s commitment to providing the utmost comfort for pilgrims to the Holy Mosque and enhancing the quality of services offered to them.

General context and historical background of the Makkah Route Initiative

The “Makkah Route” initiative represents a qualitative and historic leap forward in Hajj services. Its conception aimed to streamline procedures for pilgrims from their home countries. These procedures begin with the electronic issuance of visas and the collection of biometric data, followed by passport control at the departure airport after verification of health requirements. Historically, pilgrims faced lengthy waiting times upon arrival at Saudi ports of entry. However, with the launch of this initiative, pilgrims now arrive at Saudi airports as domestic passengers, with their luggage being transported directly to their accommodations in Makkah or Madinah without the need to wait in arrival halls.

The advanced technical role of “SDAIA” and the beneficiary countries

To ensure the success of these complex operations, SDAIA equipped the initiative with the latest digital technologies based on data and artificial intelligence. This included setting up mobile workstations and a comprehensive technological infrastructure in the initiative's airport lounges in the participating countries. This year's list of beneficiary countries includes: the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of Indonesia, the Kingdom of Malaysia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, the Republic of Maldives, and, for the first time, the Republic of Senegal and Brunei Darussalam.

The SDAIA technical team automatically monitors the systems and workstations to ensure smooth operations. High-level system availability tests were conducted to verify efficiency, and technical integration with all relevant entities was completed to ensure the swift and easy registration of pilgrims' biometric data.

The importance of the event and its expected impact

This step has wide-ranging positive effects on several levels:

• At the local level: The initiative directly contributes to easing the operational burden on the Kingdom’s airports, especially King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah, thus preventing overcrowding and accelerating the movement of passengers and managing crowds with high efficiency.
• At the regional and international levels, these efforts enhance the soft power of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighting its Islamic standing and its leading role in serving Muslims worldwide. They also reflect the Kingdom's remarkable technological advancements in digital governance and artificial intelligence, making it a global model for providing cross-border services.

In conclusion, through this continuous technical and technological support, “SDAIA” seeks to make the best use of advanced technologies to facilitate the journey of the pilgrims from the moment they leave their countries until their safe return, thus embodying the highest meanings of care and attention that the Kingdom gives to the pilgrims of the Sacred House of God.