A dedicated Makkah Route facility has been established at Velana International Airport (VIA) ahead of this year’s Hajj departures, as Maldivian pilgrims prepare to begin their journey for the 1447 AH Hajj season this Friday.
A specialised team from Saudi Arabia is currently operating in the Maldives to manage and oversee arrangements under the Makkah Route Initiative, a programme designed to simplify travel procedures for pilgrims before they arrive in the Kingdom.
Faster Arrival Process for Pilgrims
The initiative significantly reduces the time pilgrims spend at King Abdulaziz International Airport by completing immigration procedures in the pilgrims’ home country prior to departure.
Under the system, pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia can proceed directly to their accommodation without lengthy airport processing or baggage collection delays.
The service was first introduced to the Maldives last year and is continuing for the current Hajj season following positive feedback from pilgrims.
Addressing Longstanding Challenges
In previous years, Maldivian pilgrims often faced extended waiting times after arriving in Saudi Arabia, particularly while collecting luggage and travelling onward to hotels.
Authorities say the Makkah Route Initiative has eased many of these difficulties by streamlining immigration and logistics procedures, helping reduce exhaustion after the long journey.
Under the current arrangement, luggage is transported separately and delivered directly to pilgrims’ hotel rooms.
Saudi Team Managing Logistics
Biometric registration, including fingerprint and facial recognition collection, was completed in advance as part of preparations for this year’s operation.
Saudi officials have also deployed an advance logistics team to the Maldives to coordinate services on the ground.
The Saudi Post Subul authority has arranged transportation of luggage between Jeddah Airport and hotels used by Maldivian pilgrims, allowing travellers to board buses immediately after landing.
Part of Saudi Vision 2030
Launched in 2018 under Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Ministry of Interior, the Makkah Route Initiative forms part of the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 programme aimed at improving services for pilgrims worldwide.
Officials involved in this year’s arrangements say the system has been further refined since last year, with additional measures introduced to improve efficiency and reduce waiting times for Maldivian pilgrims travelling for Hajj.
