At King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (west), Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser received a flight of pilgrims arriving from Bangladesh this morning.
In statements during the reception, carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Jasser said that the Kingdom's transportation and logistics system "is honored and pleased to receive the first Hajj flights for this season, amid integrated services provided by security and operational authorities and private sector partners."
He explained that six main airports have been allocated to serve the Guests of God, namely: King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina (west), in addition to Prince Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu (west), Taif International Airport (west), King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh (central), and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (east), according to the Saudi Minister.
Al-Jasser noted that the flow of flights will continue over the coming days until the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah, "under an integrated system aimed at facilitating the pilgrims' journey from the moment of their arrival until their departure, thus strengthening the Kingdom's leading position in serving the Two Holy Mosques and the Guests of God."
In the same context, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina received two flights carrying pilgrims from Afghanistan and India today, according to SPA.
The agency also reported that other flights for pilgrims benefiting from the "Road to Makkah" initiative departed today from Türkiye, Pakistan, and Malaysia, heading to Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina.
The "Makkah Road" initiative aims to facilitate travel procedures for pilgrims by receiving them and completing their procedures in their home countries. Upon their arrival in the Kingdom, they can then be transported directly to buses and transported to their respective residences in Makkah and Madinah.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior is implementing this initiative for the seventh consecutive year, in cooperation with a number of ministries and agencies in the Kingdom.
The Hajj season typically begins on the eighth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, corresponding to June 4, 2025, and continues until the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, corresponding to June 9 , 2025.
The number of pilgrims in the previous year (1445 AH / 2024 AD) reached 1,833,164 pilgrims, including 221,854 from within the Kingdom, according to the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, who confirmed in statements in mid-June 2024 that “pilgrims from abroad came from more than 200 countries.”
