Saudi Arabia mulls opening all land borders to pilgrims after limits on arrival numbers dropped

Saudi Arabia mulls opening all land borders to pilgrims after limits on arrival numbers dropped

Cairo: Saudi Arabia is studying the possibility of opening all its land border crossings for Muslim pilgrims as the country has dropped limits on numbers of arrivals for this year’s Hajj, a Saudi official has disclosed. Chief of the Saudi Directorate of Passports, Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Abdulaziz, cited a study with relevant agencies in the country to allow pilgrims to enter the kingdom through all land crossings. Speaking at a conference and exhibition on pilgrimage, dubbed Expo Hajj 2030, being held in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, the official said Saudi Arabia is ready to receive any number of pilgrims this year thanks to its “vigorous digital infrastructure”. In this regard, the official referred to a fast-track effort facilitating procedures for pilgrims coming from five countries, known as the “Makkah Route Initiative”. Saudi Interior Ministry last year relaunched the “Makkah Route Initiative” that gives pilgrims from five countries access to facilities including finalising Hajj-related procedures in their home countries. The initiative, which kicked off on a trial basis in 2017, covers pilgrims from Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco and Bangladesh. Facilities offered to pilgrims coming from the five countries include issuance of electronic visas at home, finalising passport procedures as