Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia officially launched the Makkah Route initiative in Senegal on Friday at Blaise Diagne International Airport.

The event was attended by Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Murabba, acting director general of the General Directorate of Passports, along with other officials from both countries.

The Makkah Route initiative simplifies entry procedures for pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia.

It includes the electronic issuance of Hajj visas, biometric data collection, and passport control, all completed at the point of departure.

This process also involves coding and sorting luggage based on accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom, allowing pilgrims to bypass airport procedures upon arrival and directly travel to their residences in Makkah and Madinah.

Since its inception in 2017, the Makkah Route initiative has facilitated travel for 1,254,994 pilgrims.

It is a collaborative effort led by the Ministry of Interior alongside the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Hajj and Umrah, and Media.

The launch in Senegal further expands the program's reach, enhancing its potential impact on global pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.