The total number of pilgrims who arrived in Saudi Arabia by Wednesday reached 1,249,95, according to the Saudi General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat). The Directorate noted that the pilgrims coming by air reached 1,169,204 and by land 67,198 - reflecting an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Director-General of Jawazat Major General Sulaiman al-Yahya said that they are working on upgrading the quality of services provided to guests, facilitating their arrival to the sacred sites and working on completing their procedures the soonest.

Yahya told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the directorate has a reserve force to meet urgent conditions in portals. 

He noted that to facilitate procedures, the directorate intended to increase the number of passports' counters around 208 in the halls of King Abdulaziz International Airport and 132 counters in Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport.

The major general also said that the portals are of a total of 12, and their maximum capacity has been enhanced according to the field plan. The plan is being implemented over two stages: arrival and departure.

Speaking about improving the Hajj program, Yahya noted that Jawazat prepares a new work-plan each year while monitoring the stages of work and mechanisms for implementation.

Read More:

• 'We are not seeking to continue tension with certain European countries' - Rouhani

• Saudi Arabia supports Sudan financial position - Depositing $250 million into central bank

Human Factor

In this regard, the major general said that the plan takes into consideration any updates on annual basis and monitors all expected needs, including the number of human factors in portals in addition to activating technology as another element in facilitating the entrance of pilgrims.

Makkah Road Initiative

Yahya stated that Makkah Road Initiative is a Saudi one which is being implemented within the National Transformation Programme 2020 in the achievement of Vision 2030, to upgrade the services provided to pilgrims.

For the third year in a row, Jawazat is implementing this initiative in participation with other government parties.