* Initiative expands across 10 countries, easing pre departure processing for over 179,000 pilgrims
* What is the programme and why Africa’s largest Hajj quota holder is not yet part of it?
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun receiving the first batches of international pilgrims from participating countries for the 2026 Hajj through its Makkah Route initiative, as the Kingdom expands efforts to simplify entry procedures and improve the arrival experience for thousands of worshippers.
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al Jasser on April 18, 2026, welcomed the first Makkah Route flight at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah after Saudia flight SV5807 arrived from Bangladesh carrying 376 pilgrims, marking the formal start of the initiative for the 2026 Hajj season.
Saudi officials, including the Director General of Passports at Madinah airport Mohammed Al Sagri, said the initiative allows pilgrims to complete visa processing, biometric registration, passport clearance and health verification at designated airports in their home countries before departure, enabling them to proceed directly to their accommodation in Makkah or Madinah upon arrival.
#مبادرة_طريق_مكة في إسطنبول، كل خطوة مُيسّرة.#رؤية_السعودية_2030 pic.twitter.com/0zkitNRwBr
— طريق مكة (@MakkahRoute) April 23, 2026
Muslim News gathered that the programme is expected to serve more than 179,000 pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj season, according to Saudia, which said the service is part of broader plans to improve crowd management and reduce congestion at Saudi airports.
The Makkah Route initiative, launched in 2017 under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and officially expanded in 2019, has processed more than 1.25 million pilgrims and is now operating in 10 countries, namely Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Türkiye, Côte d’Ivoire, Maldives, Senegal and Brunei Darussalam.
Saudi authorities said pilgrims arriving through the initiative are transported directly to their hotels in the holy cities while luggage is sorted and delivered separately through pre arranged logistics systems.
في أولى رحلات مستفيدي مبادرة طريق مكة من مطار سلطان حسن الدين الدولي بجمهورية إندونيسيا .. تقنيات ترتقي بخدمة ضيوف الرحمن.
رؤية السعودية 2030 pic.twitter.com/pKfHObr8gL
— طريق مكة (@MakkahRoute) April 22, 2026
Officials say the arrangement has reduced waiting times at entry points and improved comfort for pilgrims, especially the elderly and those requiring assistance.
Nigeria yet to join Makkah Route initiative
But despite the enormous benefits of the initiative, Nigeria which holds the largest Hajj quota in Africa is yet to be included in the Makkah Route initiative since its establishment in 2017 and expansion phase in 2019 as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to streamline pilgrimage procedures.
The initiative allows pilgrims from participating countries to complete immigration, customs, biometric and health requirements at their departure airports and enter the Kingdom with minimal processing upon arrival, although standard security and verification procedures are still conducted by Saudi authorities in a simplified form at entry points.
#Makkah_Route_Initiative … a service that begins before arrival.#SaudiVision2030 pic.twitter.com/jCvgn17kvv
— طريق مكة (@MakkahRoute) April 21, 2026
Although no official statement has been issued by either Saudi or Nigerian authorities on why Nigeria, the country with the largest Muslim population in Africa, has not joined the programme, Muslim News findings revealed that the country’s decentralised Hajj departure system may be a major factor.
For the 2026 Hajj, Nigerian pilgrims are expected to depart through at least seven airports, including Lagos, Abuja, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kebbi, Maiduguri and Ilorin, while the recently inaugurated Gateway International Airport in Ogun State is also expected to join the operation.
Industry observers say the multiple departure points mean Saudi Arabia would need to deploy immigration officers, biometric systems, baggage processing infrastructure and logistics personnel across several Nigerian airports, making the programme more complex and cost intensive to operate.
Makkah Route Initiative. pic.twitter.com/Ch6P6jRNcG
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) April 21, 2026
By contrast, countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan, despite being among the largest Muslim populations globally, handle most of their pilgrims through a limited number of international airports, making it easier for Saudi authorities to install and manage Makkah Route facilities.
Analysts say Nigeria’s current airlift model may continue to delay its inclusion unless the country streamlines departure centres or establishes more centralised processing arrangements to meet operational requirements.
Nigeria received an allocation of more than 90,000 pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj season, but the actual number expected to travel is about 50,000, according to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, with pilgrims to be airlifted by four approved carriers.
Stakeholders say that including Nigeria in the Makkah Route initiative would significantly improve arrival procedures for thousands of Nigerian pilgrims and reduce pressure on Saudi entry terminals during peak arrival periods.
📹|وصول أولى رحلات مستفيدي #مبادرة_طريق_مكة لمطاري الملك عبدالعزيز الدولي بجدة والأمير محمد بن عبدالعزيز الدولي بالمدينة المنورة.#رؤية_السعودية_2030 pic.twitter.com/QzVxec2UHf
— طريق مكة (@MakkahRoute) April 19, 2026
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