Saudi Gazette report

ABIDJAN — Saudi Arabia has launched on Friday the Makkah Route Initiative in Côte d'Ivoire at Abidjan International Airport.

It was launched at the initiative's hall in the airport in the presence of Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya, director general of Passports (Jawazat), who is also the chairman of the supervisory team of the initiative, in addition to a number of officials from both sides.

Makkah Route aims to welcome Hajj pilgrims, complete their procedures from their countries with ease and comfort, starting from issuing the electronic visa, taking the vital characteristics.

The initiative also completes the pilgrims' passport procedures at the airport of the country of departure after verifying the availability of health requirements.

Additionally, the procedures include coding and sorting pilgrims’ luggage to send to their place of residency in the Kingdom.

On arrival, Hajj pilgrims would be directly transferred to the buses that will transport them to their place of residency in Makkah and Madinah with designated lanes, while the competent authority will deliver their luggage to their place of residency.

The Ministry of Interior is operating the Makkah Route initiative in 7 countries during this year 1444 AH, which include Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, Bangladesh, in addition to Turkey and Ivory Coast who have been added to the list for the first time this year.

The Ministry implements the initiative in cooperation with the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Hajj and Umrah, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), Doyof (Guests) Al Rahman Program — Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 executive programs, and the General Directorate of Passports.