Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has dedicated specialized reception lounges at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah to accommodate pilgrims arriving under the Makkah Route Initiative for the 2026 Hajj season, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
GACA is currently deploying fully equipped terminals and advanced operational scheduling to streamline passenger movement and ensure the application of high service standards during the Hajj season.
In collaboration with public and private sector partners, the authority is also integrating advanced logistics systems to provide the direct delivery of pilgrims’ luggage to their accommodations.
Therefore, the authorities have eliminated the need to wait at airport baggage claim areas and boosting the overall efficiency of arrivals, as part of the Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030.
Marking its eighth year, the Makkah Route Initiative extends its reach to 10 countries—Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Maldives, and Brunei Darussalam—operating through 17 international airports.
This integrated effort brings together the Ministry of Interior and a wide network of government entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and Ministry of Media.
All these ministries are collaborating with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and the General Directorate of Passports, all working in close coordination with the digital partner stc group.
The Kingdom has recently welcomed the first flight of pilgrims arriving from Turkiye, marking the beginning of international arrivals for the 2026 Hajj season.
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