Previous

1 / 10

Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday. (SPA)

2 / 10

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah bin Abiyah saw off the pilgrims. (SPA)

3 / 10

The first group of Indian Hajj pilgrims was received at Madinah airport by Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan and Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri. (SPA)

4 / 10

The first group of Indian Hajj pilgrims was received at Madinah airport by Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan and Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri. (SPA)

5 / 10

Malaysian Hajj pilgrims departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on Sunday. (SPA)

6 / 10

Malaysian Hajj pilgrims departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on Sunday. (SPA)

7 / 10

Pakistani Hajj pilgrims departed from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Saturday. (SPA)

8 / 10

Pakistani Hajj pilgrims departed from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Saturday. (SPA)

9 / 10

Turkish Hajj pilgrims departed from Ankara Esenboga Airport in Turkiye on Saturday. (SPA)

10 / 10

Turkish Hajj pilgrims departed from Ankara Esenboga Airport in Turkiye on Saturday. (SPA)Next

Arab News

April 18, 2026

• Arrivals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, Turkiye mark start the annual pilgrimage season

JEDDAH: The first flight carrying Pakistani beneficiaries of the Makkah Route initiative arrived at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Saturday from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 people for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Of these, around 118,000 seats have been allocated to the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators.

Sindh Gov. Nehal Hashmi and other federal and provincial officials saw off the passengers. “A total of 160 Hajj pilgrims were sent off with prayers and best wishes,” the Sindh Directorate of Hajj said in a statement.

Another flight carrying Bangladeshi beneficiaries of the initiative arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Saturday from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah bin Abiyah saw off the pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The first flights of the Makkah Route initiative from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia also arrived in Madinah on Saturday.

The first flight carrying pilgrims from Ankara Esenboga Airport in Turkiye arrived in Madinah, marking the continued expansion of the Makkah Route initiative, which provides streamlined, high-quality services to pilgrims directly from their home countries.

The General Directorate of Passports affirmed its full readiness to facilitate a smooth entry experience for pilgrims across all air, land, and sea ports by deploying advanced technological resources and specialized personnel to ensure the highest service standards throughout the Hajj season.

The first group of Indian Hajj pilgrims was received at Madinah airport by Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan and Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, along with other senior Saudi and Indian officials. Khan also inspected facilities at the airport and met Indian community volunteers assisting Hajj pilgrims.

The Ministry of Interior continues the implementation of the Makkah Route initiative for its eighth consecutive year, expanding the service to 17 entry points across 10 countries.

As a flagship project of the Pilgrim Experience Program under Vision 2030, the initiative now includes Senegal and Brunei Darussalam for the first time, joining Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Cote d’Ivoire, and the Maldives.

The initiative is designed to provide a seamless, high-quality Hajj experience by completing all entry procedures in pilgrims’ home countries. This includes the electronic issuance of Hajj visas, passport control, and verification of health requirements at the departure airport.

Additionally, luggage is coded and sorted according to accommodation arrangements in Saudi Arabia, allowing pilgrims to board dedicated buses upon arrival in Makkah and Madinah without waiting at baggage claim.

The initiative is being implemented in cooperation with the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and other government entities. Since its launch in 2017, it has served 1,254,994 pilgrims.

source https://www.arabnews.com/node/2640378/saudi-arabia