Dhaka, April 18, 2026, SPA — The first flight carrying beneficiaries of the Makkah Route Initiative departed today from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the Kingdom through the initiative’s dedicated lounge at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, heading to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, in the presence of Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Tarique Rahman and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah bin Abiyah.
The initiative aims to provide high-quality services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries by receiving them and completing their procedures in their home countries with ease and convenience.
This begins with taking biometric data and electronically issuing the Hajj visa, followed by completing passport procedures at the airport of departure after verifying compliance with health requirements, as well as coding and sorting luggage in accordance with transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom.Beneficiaries are then transported directly by buses along designated routes to their residences in Makkah and Madinah, while partner entities deliver their luggage to their accommodations.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Interior is implementing the initiative in its eighth year in cooperation with the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media; the General Authority of Civil Aviation; the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority; the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA); the General Authority for Awqaf; the Pilgrim Experience Program; the General Directorate of Passports; and in integration with the digital partner, stc Group. Since its launch in 2017, the initiative has served 1,254,994 pilgrims.