Madinah | B | BETH
01 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1447 AH | 18 April 2026

The first flights of beneficiaries of the “Makkah Route” initiative departed from Ankara, Turkey, heading to the Kingdom via the initiative’s dedicated lounge at Esenboğa International Airport, arriving at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, marking a new phase in the evolution of services for the Guests of الرحمن.

Body
The initiative aims to provide high-quality, integrated services to pilgrims in their home countries by completing procedures prior to departure. This includes biometric enrollment, electronic issuance of Hajj visas, completion of passport procedures, verification of health requirements, and tagging and sorting of luggage according to transportation and accommodation arrangements within the Kingdom.

Upon arrival, pilgrims are transported through designated routes directly to their residences in Makkah and Madinah, while partner entities handle the delivery of their luggage, ensuring a smooth and seamless arrival experience.

The initiative is implemented by the Ministry of Interior in its eighth year, in cooperation with several government entities, including 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 Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and the General Directorate of Passports, in addition to the digital partner (stc Group).

Since its launch in 1438 AH (2017), the initiative has served more than 1.25 million beneficiaries, reflecting its expansion and sustained impact.

In the same context, the General Directorate of Passports at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport received the first flights of pilgrims arriving from Turkey and completed their entry procedures with ease and reassurance, confirming full readiness across international air, land, and sea entry points, and mobilizing all human and technical capabilities to ensure service quality.

B | BETH Analysis
The “Makkah Route” initiative is no longer merely a procedural facilitation, but has evolved into an integrated model redefining the pilgrim experience, starting from the country of departure and not ending upon arrival.

Delivering services before travel represents a qualitative shift from crowd management to journey management, where complex processes are consolidated into a single point, reducing operational pressure at entry points and enhancing the overall experience for pilgrims.

The integration among entities, alongside the use of technology and data, improves operational efficiency and establishes a sustainable system capable of accommodating future expansion, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

Conclusion
“Makkah Route” is not just a pathway for pilgrims…
but a pathway for redefining service before arrival.

Analyses have emerged suggesting deeper European roles…
however, there are no reliable indicators so far confirming direct coordination with the Revolutionary Guard,
and this track remains subject to monitoring and verification.

In this context, notable European signals have appeared, including remarks by the UK Prime Minister about the possibility of arrangements being discussed independently of the United States,
reflecting a degree of independent European movement…
without rising to the level of evidence for covert coordination or field-level partnerships at this stage.