Muslim News gathered that the first contingent of pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday, ahead of this year’s Hajj, the last pillar of Islam, which is expected to draw millions of Muslims from across the world.
The first batches of Hajj pilgrims from several countries have arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking the commencement of international arrivals for this year’s pilgrimage season.
Pilgrims from Türkiye, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India were among the first groups to land on Saturday, Dhul Qada 1, at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Saudi authorities, alongside diplomats from the respective countries, received the pilgrims in a coordinated operation that signalled the formal opening of Hajj arrivals.
The General Directorate of Passports processed incoming pilgrims efficiently, including Turkish pilgrims arriving from Ankara under the Makkah Route Initiative, which streamlines entry procedures for eligible pilgrims before departure.
In Pakistan, Saudi officials and diplomats received the first flight from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, while Saudi Arabia also inaugurated a third embarkation point of the Makkah Route Initiative at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.
The ceremony was attended by Pakistani Minister of Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Al-Maliki, and senior Saudi passport officials.
Similar operations were recorded in Malaysia and Bangladesh, where pilgrims departed under the Makkah Route Initiative, a programme designed to simplify immigration procedures and enhance travel efficiency for Hajj pilgrims.
The first batch of Indian pilgrims also arrived in Madinah, with the Indian mission confirming that successive flights from Mumbai and other cities followed. The Indian consulate, Saudi officials, and diplomats were present to receive the pilgrims.
Saudi authorities said the General Directorate of Passports has deployed advanced systems and personnel across all entry points to ensure smooth processing of pilgrims arriving by air, land, and sea.
The Ministry of Interior said the Makkah Route Initiative, now in its eighth year, has expanded to 10 countries with the inclusion of Senegal and Brunei Darussalam. Other participating countries include Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Türkiye, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Maldives.
Since its launch in 2017, the initiative has served more than 1.2 million pilgrims.
The programme allows pilgrims to complete visa issuance, biometric registration, and passport procedures in their home countries before departure, while luggage and transport arrangements are also pre-organised for seamless arrival and accommodation in the Kingdom.
Officials said the initiative is implemented in coordination with several Saudi ministries and agencies, including Foreign Affairs, Health, Hajj and Umrah, Civil Aviation, and digital authorities.
Hajj Ministry warns against entry without official permit
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stressed that performing Hajj is strictly limited to pilgrims holding official permits issued by competent authorities.
The ministry warned that no individual will be allowed to perform Hajj without proper documentation, adding that legal penalties will be imposed on violators.
It urged Hajj missions and service providers to ensure full compliance with regulations, noting that the measure is aimed at safeguarding pilgrims, improving crowd management, and ensuring an organised and safe pilgrimage environment.
The ministry added that preparations for the season began immediately after the conclusion of last year’s Hajj, with ongoing coordination meetings and awareness programmes with relevant stakeholders to enhance compliance and service delivery.
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