Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH/MADINAH —

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday received the first groups of pilgrims arriving to perform Hajj 2025, including those traveling under the "Makkah Route" initiative, as flights from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Malaysia landed in Jeddah and Madinah.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah welcomed a flight carrying 396 Bangladeshi pilgrims from Dhaka, received by Minister of Transport and Logistics, Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser.

The flight was among several scheduled arrivals through Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

Al-Jasser noted that six major airports have been designated to serve pilgrims this Hajj season: King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah), Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Madinah), Prince Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz Airport (Yanbu), Taif International Airport, King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh), and King Fahd International Airport (Dammam).

Madinah also received several flights under the “Makkah Route” initiative. These included arrivals from Islamabad, Pakistan, Hyderabad, India (carrying 262 pilgrims), and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The “Makkah Route” initiative aims to streamline the Hajj journey by providing pre-departure visa issuance, customs, and immigration procedures at the airport of origin. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, pilgrims are transported directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah, with their luggage delivered separately through coordinated partner agencies.