Senior Saudi delegation in Maldives to provide Makkah Route Initiative services

A senior delegation has arrived in the Maldives from the Kingdom Saudi Arabia to provide services for the newly introduced Makkah Route Initiative for Maldivian Hajj pilgrims.

The advance team of the Makkah Route Initiative arrived in the Maldives on Friday. The delegation was welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA) by Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and senior officials from the ministry.

The delegation includes officials from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Immigration, and other relevant institutions. The delegation is set to carry out the necessary work to implement the Makkah Route Initiative in the Maldives.

The Makkah Route Initiative is scheduled to begin in the Maldives on May 26, which is the day the first flight of Maldivian pilgrims departs.

A delegation of 26 officials from Saudi Arabia is set to arrive in the Maldives for the Makkah Route Initiative work.

The Makkah Route Initiative allows pilgrims to complete immigration procedures for both countries at their home country's airport before departure. As a result, pilgrims can proceed directly to their hotels without waiting at Jeddah Airport's immigration. Pilgrims' luggage will also be delivered directly to their hotels. The process of traveling from the airport to the hotel will also be simplified.

It is a special project carried out under the supervision of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohamed bin Salman to provide a convenient arrangement for pilgrims.

According to the Islamic Ministry, this is a historically significant convenience for Maldivian pilgrims. The ministry stated that the government of Saudi Arabia has so far offered this opportunity to countries with the highest number of pilgrims, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

The ministry stated that this opportunity for the Maldives reflects the brotherly bond that Saudi Arabia feels towards the Maldivian people.

The Makkah Route Initiative is an initiative included in Saudi Vision 2030, implemented by the Saudi government under their Hajj Ministry and Interior Ministry since 2018. The project aims to provide ease and convenience for pilgrims.

Services that will be facilitated for Maldivian pilgrims with the implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative:

1. Collection of pilgrims' biometric data, facilitation of electronic Hajj visas, and confirmation of health measures and safety precautions taken for pilgrims.
2. Tagging and registering luggage under pilgrims' names, and immediate issuance of boarding passes at the pilgrim departure terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA).
3. Completion of all entry procedures for Saudi Arabia through the passport team at the specially designated terminal at the airport under the Makkah Route Initiative, allowing pilgrims to proceed directly to their departure gates for Jeddah or Madinah without delays.
4. Establishment of a system under the Makkah Route Initiative that allows pilgrims to go directly to their designated hotels upon arrival at the pilgrim terminal in Saudi Arabia airports.
5. Direct delivery of pilgrims' luggage to their hotels under the initiative, eliminating the need for pilgrims to wait at the arrival terminal for their luggage.

The Islamic Ministry officially requested to include the Maldives in the Makkah Route two months ago, following numerous consultations with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj.

The ministry highlighted that Saudi Arabia's decision to include the Maldives in the Makkah Route Initiative symbolizes the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.