Tag Archives: hajj

As part of the wide efforts the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah work on to enhance the services for pilgrims, the Ministry launched the Direct Hajj Initiative through the “Nusuk Hajj” platform, the official platform licensed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which aims to raise the level of services provided to the visitors of the two holy cities through packages designed specifically for pilgrims via a limited number of approved service providers. In continuation of these efforts and in view of the wide geographical area targeted by the initiative, which covers 126 countries around the world during the Hajj season 1445 AH, and to provide flight services that suit the aspirations of pilgrims, Almosafer, the leading travel company in the Kingdom (part of Seera Group), has become the official flight partner of the Direct Hajj Initiative to provide a set of travel services designed specifically to provide a seamless booking experience for Hajj trips. The new partnership between Almosafer and Nusuk Hajj Platform will enhance the pilgrims’ experience in each of the countries served by the platform, which includes countries in the continents of Europe, the Americas, Australia, and select countries in the continents of Asia and Africa. This cooperation represents an important milestone in paving the way to provide reliable and comfortable travel options among the many additional services that Nusk Hajj platform will provide to enrich the experience of the pilgrims. This comes after the Ministry launched the new Hajj platform during the speech of His Excellency Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, at LEAP conference in Riyadh. Almosafer was chosen as the official flight partner due to its exceptional technical capabilities, its geographical …

Saudi Arabian Airlines intends to buy around 100 aircraft to operate flying taxis between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and hotels in Makkah. The Saudi national carrier is making preparations to use air taxis as a new mode of transportation during the Hajj season, according to Abdullah Al-Shahrani, director of corporate communications and spokesman of the Saudia Group. He said that the Saudia Group has contracted the purchase of 100 Lilium jets, German electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to shuttle between the Jeddah airport and airstrips in Makkah hotels near the Grand Mosque and other holy places. “The electric plane Lilium is one of the first aircraft that operates entirely on electric power. The news is according to the Saudi Gazette. “After completing the necessary arrangements, these planes will fly with the guests of God during Hajj and Umrah seasons from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to the airstrips in hotels near the Grand Mosque in Makkah,” he told Al-Arabiya. Al-Shahrani noted that flying taxi can transport four to six passengers. “The Lilium aircraft is characterized by a low rate of carbon emissions and is an environmentally friendly aircraft, which makes it one of the possibilities for sustaining air travel and shortening the time of flights, as it covers a maximum distance of 250 km. “Through purchasing nearly 100 aircraft, Saudi Airlines intends to launch an advanced service to connect a number of travel destinations via this advanced electric aircraft, and will support it with air routes between the main airports from where Saudia operates,” he said while pointing out that this is a special service for its guests. He said that the aircraft also features …

SAUDIA Group announced that its performance reports, following the Hajj Season 2023, show distinguished operating rates during the peak of the summer travel season from May 21st to August 2nd, 2023. SAUDIA Group’s performance during this period peaked as the airline allocated more than 1.2 million seats for Hajj pilgrims, while operating 79,000 flights. SAUDIA’s fleet flew an average of half a million hours, while recording an on-time-performance rate of 83.8%. Meanwhile, 1,768 pilots and assistant pilots have also contributed to SAUDIA’s success by managing the flights efficiently, while the guest cabin crew worked at full capacity during the season, with a total of 6,063 crewmembers, who speak more than 42 languages, working during the summer months. The Hajj season also saw the mobilization of the Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) which operated at full capacity with its automated capabilities and qualified cadres to ensure the provision of the best services. SAEI dedicated a specialized team to support during Hajj season which included the allocation of 112 maintenance stations which were operated by 1,154 technicians. In addition, SAEI supplied SAUDIA with 3,896 different types of aircraft parts while the time spent on maintenance amounted to 50,700 hours. SAEI has obtained many international licenses and certificates from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the US Federal Aviation Authority, the European Organization for Aviation Safety, among others. Moreover, SAEI obtained licenses approved by manufacturers which allow the company to manufacture aircraft spare parts in a limited capacity. The Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC) has also played a major role during the Hajj season, as they provided best-in class production of meals that comply with the best international standards. SACC also provided comprehensive …

Saudi Arabia commits to sustainable tourism by launching for the first time in Hajj, self-driving vehicles to transport pilgrims. The Transport General Authority, for the first time, is launching the trial of self-driving electric buses to serve the pilgrims this Hajj season. It aims to provide innovative modern technologies for sustainable and environment-friendly transportation. The initiative is part of the authority’s efforts to offer multiple transportation options, making it easier for the pilgrims. The self-driving buses utilize artificial intelligence, cameras, and surrounding sensors to operate without human intervention along a predefined route. They gather information during movement and analyze it to make necessary decisions, aiming to enhance passenger experience and ensure safety. Each bus has 11 seats, operates for 6 hours per charge, and can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h. The service aims to facilitate the transportation of pilgrims and assess the feasibility of using these technologies during Hajj. It also aims to establish the necessary requirements for their commercial operation in coming years. This falls within the role of the authority in providing different and diverse transportation options, as well as adopting modern technologies and smart mobility solutions to assess their suitability and contribution to providing a unique transportation experience for Hajj pilgrims. It aims to ensure smooth and comfortable transportation and enable pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and peace of mind. — SPA

The Hajj Committee at Dubai Airports convened recently to discuss comprehensive preparations to facilitate the smooth and seamless travel of Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year. The committee, which comprises key service partners including Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), Dubai Customs, Dubai Health Authority, flydubai, Emirates, Saudi Airlines, and flynas, among others, aims to deliver an exceptional airport experience for the pilgrims across all terminals at DXB. Mohammad Al Marzouqi, Head of the Hajj Committee, emphasised on the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders and service partners as the key to maintaining service quality especially during annual peak travel seasons. Dubai Airports is committed to providing world-class passenger facilities and services, to ensure the comfort, convenience, and safety of all guests arriving at and departing from DXB.

Saudi joined Umrah+ Connect, a leading B2B platform dedicated to the Umrah travel market to share Saudi’s Umrah offering with UK and European trade partners. Taking place during the World Travel Market, where Saudi is this year’s Premier Partner, Umrah+ Connect brings together leading DMC’s, airlines, hoteliers, and Umrah companies. Following the success of last year’s first major B2B Umrah event in London, Umrah+ Connect took place in association with Nusuk, Saudi’s first official integrated digital platform that offers pilgrims and visitors an easy-to-use planning gateway for their journeys to Makkah and Madinah, and beyond. This comes off the back of the recent global launch of Nusuk by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Nusuk is an initiative of the Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program which has seen roadshows taking place in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Egypt and Indonesia. Nusuk will expand the range of choice and enhance the overall experience for Muslims visiting Saudi and enable simpler arrival procedures for visitors to perform Umrah. Nusuk will also offer a new range of services including facilitating visas, permits, booking processes and procedures, along with special packages for Makkah, Madinah and beyond. His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Chairman of the Committee for the Pilgrim Experience Program, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, said, “The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah continues its efforts in cooperation and collaboration with government entities in Saudi Arabia to serve the pilgrims of Makkah and Madinah through Nusuk. We are using the most advanced technology to enrich the spiritual experience of the pilgrim and visitor. Nusuk’s sponsorship of this event is a symbol of our commitment to bringing Nusuk to our partners and to the tens of millions Muslims …

SAUDIA Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to collaborate on the development of products and services that will benefit and cater to guests coming to the Kingdom to perform Pilgrimage. The collaboration will encompass multiple of initiatives under four main tracks which are Digital Development and Integration, Training, Communication Awareness, and Measuring Satisfaction. The agreement was signed by His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rubaieh, and His Excellency the Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar. The signing ceremony was held during the first day of the Hajj and Umrah conference and exhibition in Jeddah. This agreement will lead to the development of the specialized online platform (www.umrahbysaudia.com) for marketing Umrah products and issuing electronic visas (eVisa). It will also enable the airline to host more guests from different countries by integrating the platform with the “Eatmarna” application for easier Umrah bookings. Areas of cooperation also include coordination with the Ministry to improve the performance of the Hajj pilgrim’s movement during the pilgrimage, coordination with organizations that campaign for Hajj education, as well as preparing a procedural guide for pilgrims. Other initiatives will focus on measuring the satisfaction of guests and building awareness programs for Pilgrims on board by establishing a “Hajj and Umrah” channel in the in-flight entertainment system. The signing of the memorandum between the two entities showcases SAUDIA’s disposition to stay aligned with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah plans of increasing the number of pilgrims through projects that are currently being implemented, such as adding new international destinations the Airline’s network and offering more flights and increasing seat capacity. …

Emirates will be expanding its services to Jeddah and Medina with an additional 46 flights to help facilitate travel for Hajj pilgrims heading to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The flights will be operated between July 27 and August 22 to support the Hajj journey to the Holy City of Mecca. The services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services to Jeddah and Medina, and will be available to travellers holding a valid Hajj visa. This year, Emirates expects thousands of pilgrims to travel on its services for Hajj, coming from top inbound destinations such as Pakistan, the United States, Senegal, the UK, Nigeria, Indonesia, South Africa and Ivory Coast. Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran, Emirates, said, “Hajj is one of the most significant events in the Muslim faith, and every year, Emirates’ primary focus is to help facilitate seamless travel for our Hajj passengers as they converge on the Holy City of Mecca for this once in a lifetime journey.” On the ground in Dubai, Emirates has commissioned a dedicated team to manage check-in and transfers for the seamless movement of Hajj passengers leaving from and transiting in Dubai. In the air, Emirates has planned several initiatives that uphold the values and traditions of pilgrims when travelling for Hajj. Extra provisions will be made to accommodate Hajj traveller needs such as performing ablutions and other cleansing rituals as well as advising passengers when they have entered Al Miqat zones to ensure readiness for Ihram (the point when pilgrims enter a state of sanctity) through dedicated passenger announcements.

As of July 2018, arrival flights around the holy city of Mecca ahead of this year’s Hajj were up 20 per cent when compared to the last year’s pilgrimage, according to an analysis conducted by Travelport. With Hajj being one of the five pillars of Islam, all Muslims are obliged to make the Islamic pilgrimage at least once in their lifetimes if they have the means to do so. Over five days, it involves undertaking a series of rituals including trekking through the desert and drinking water from a holy well. Every year, in excess of one million people from all over the world fly into western Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, making it one of the largest annual spikes in global air traffic. To manage numbers from overseas, Saudi Arabia sets quotas for countries based on their population of Muslims. Local governments and/or private travel companies then allocate places for citizens. This year, the pilgrimage begins this weekend and concludes on the first day of Eid AlAdha. During this period, in total, as many as three million pilgrims are expected to participate. With such vast numbers involved, pilgrims start arriving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as early as one month before the official start of Hajj to avoid the crowds at holy sites and prepare for the pilgrimage. Due to their proximity to relevant locations, the three airports pilgrims tend to fly into are: King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah; Ta’if Regional Airport, Ta’if; and Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Medina.

Etihad Airways will operate additional flights between Abu Dhabi and its destinations in Saudi Arabia to facilitate the movement of thousands of pilgrims for Hajj. Until August 28, Etihad will operate special charters to carry pilgrims on its additional flights to Jeddah and Medina Airport. All flights will operate alongside regular scheduled services. The top inbound destinations for the Hajj Etihad flights are the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Korea, and Nigeria. Hareb Mubarak Al Muhairi, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President, said, “The Hajj pilgrimage is a very important experience for Muslims around the world and Etihad is proud to help its customers make this significant journey. This year we see a 17 per cent increase in the number of pilgrims travelling with Etihad compared the same period last year. To meet this increasing demand, Etihad Airways are adding 16 flights alongside our scheduled services to Jeddah and Medina. We are committed to providing a memorable Hajj travel experience for our customers and to helping them complete their journey with ease and peace of mind.” A dedicated group of airport staff is available to facilitate a seamless ground experience for Hajj travellers. In addition, dedicated check-in counters have been set up at Abu Dhabi international airport. Extra provisions will also be made by cabin crew to meet pilgrims’ needs and requirements and to facilitate the performing of ablutions, advising them about the entry into Al Miqat (state of sanctity), and the changing into Ihram robes.