Saudi Gazette report

MADINAH — The first batch of Iranian pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom via Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. The rest of the 85,000 plus pilgrims from the country will arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah from July 25.

Talal Qutub, chairman of the Tawafa Establishment for the Iranian Pilgrims, said all arrangements have been completed to receive the Iranian pilgrims. He said as many as 10 field offices manned by well-trained and highly qualified staff will serve the pilgrims.

A total of 85,200 Iranians are expected to perform Haj this year, which is little less than last year when 86,000 pilgrims attended the annual religious event.

Meanwhile, a pilgrim-carrier flight coming from Indonesia as part of the Makkah Road initiative arrived in Madinah with the pilgrims having completed all immigration procedures at their embarkation points back home.

At least 11 governmental bodies have made concerted efforts to complete the immigration process of pilgrims before arrival at their final destination. The initiative comes as part of the Saudi government's efforts to expedite the procedures and shorten the pilgrims' stay at Saudi airports on their arrival in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

A special terminal was allotted for the arrivals, with buses waiting to take the pilgrims directly to their temporary stay camps.

Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Agos Abe Jibreel praised the move which, he said, is part of the giant services the Kingdom has provided since long for pilgrims to make the once-tough-trek a pleasant journey.

Saudi Arabia officially launched the Makkah Road initiative earlier by commissioning the first two flights of Malaysian pilgrims from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.