Saudi Gazette report

MADINAH — A group of Indonesian pilgrims recently departed from Adi Soemarmo International Airport in Central Java, heading to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah as part of the Makkah Route Initiative.

Launched by the Ministry of Interior in 2017, this initiative aims to streamline and enhance the Hajj journey for pilgrims.

The Makkah Route Initiative is a collaborative effort involving the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media, along with the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and AI Authority, and the Pilgrim Experience Program.

Its primary goal is to facilitate the various aspects of the Hajj experience, enabling pilgrims to complete necessary immigration, customs, and health procedures before departing their home countries.

To date, the initiative has successfully served 617,756 pilgrims, significantly improving their Hajj experience by reducing waiting times and streamlining entry procedures upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.