Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Minister of Transport and Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Dr. Nabeel Al-Amoudi, oversaw the departure of the first group of pilgrims under “Eyab” initiative on Saturday together with GACA President Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri.

Eyab seeks to improve services provided to pilgrims with the authority aiming to enrich pilgrims’ experience at the Kingdom’s airports. It is expected to benefit 30,000 pilgrims during this year’s Haj season, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Al-Amoudi toured the exhibition dedicated to welcome Eyab’s beneficiaries, inspected the services available and received a briefing from officials.

GACA started an experimental implementation of Eyab this year aimed at pilgrims returning to Indonesia, India and Malaysia through Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport and Madinah’s Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Airport.

GACA has announced the launch of Eyab Initiative, which it calls a qualitative and historic leap in terms of services being provided to pilgrims.

The initiative, which is scheduled to be launched in its pilot stage during this year, aims to facilitate completion of travel procedures for pilgrims from their residences through use of sophisticated computerized systems.

During this year’s Haj, the initiative is targeting pilgrims departing to three countries — Indonesia, India and Malaysia.

GACA President Al-Mansouri pointed out that with the launch of the initiative, the authority aims to raise the standard of services being provided to the pilgrims to enrich their travel experience. It will also facilitate completion of travel procedures and cut waiting time at airports in Jeddah and Madinah so that the pilgrims return to their respective countries with ease and comfort.

Al-Mansouri further said that the initiative would serve some 30,000 pilgrims in its initial phase.

Then this service will be extended to all pilgrims, Umrah performers and passengers traveling through other Kingdom's airports.