Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — The General Directorate of Passports affirmed its readiness to finalize pilgrims’ departure procedures for the current Hajj season at various Saudi international air, land, and sea entry and exit points, and to facilitate their travel.

The directorate stated that it has mobilized its personnel and technologies, supported by modern security systems, to implement this phase of the Hajj plan and ensure pilgrims’ smooth departure.

Meanwhile, the government entities in the Madinah Region have begun seeing off pilgrims returning to their home countries via Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, after performing Hajj this year with ease and tranquility.

After performing Hajj, large numbers of pilgrims are arriving in Madinah to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque and greet Prophet Muhammad and his two companions. A program has been implemented to facilitate their transfer from residences to the airport.

The program is overseen by the Hajj and Visit Committee in the region and relevant entities to ensure the orderly and timely departure of flights to various destinations. The Madinah airport recorded tangible success during the pre-Hajj phase by receiving Hajj flights smoothly and efficiently. During the arrival period, the airport received 719,400 pilgrims, representing 49 percent of all air-arriving pilgrims to the Kingdom during this Hajj season.

These pilgrims arrived on board 1,910 flights from 196 cities in 53 countries, operated by 65 airlines, starting from April 29. This volume accounted for 60 percent of all Hajj flights received by Saudi airports during the arrival phase.