Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah announced plans to include Umrah pilgrims from Malaysia in the Makkah Route Initiative during a joint press conference with Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. The Makkah Route Initiative currently provides high levels of efficiency and comfort for Hajj pilgrims in their pilgrimage journey by allowing them to complete entry procedures in their home countries’ airports and providing direct transfer to accommodation in Makkah and Madinah. This initiative is currently available in 11 airports across seven countries, including Malaysia.
Al-Rabiah also mentioned that a joint task force would explore the potential applications of Malaysia’s Tabung Haji business model for Hajj management in other countries. Additionally, plans were unveiled to release a Malay edition of the Nusuk Application to improve services for Malaysian Umrah pilgrims. The Saudi government is actively working to combat illegal Hajj promotion campaigns in collaboration with Malaysia, emphasizing the importance of using only official platforms for Hajj and Umrah programs to ensure a secure pilgrimage experience.
Last year, Saudi Arabia welcomed over 34,000 Hajj pilgrims and more than 280,000 Umrah pilgrims from Malaysia. Al-Rabiah expressed the desire to host even more pilgrims and enhance their overall experience during their visit to the Kingdom. Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs Mohd Na’im Mokhtar also expressed support for the stringent measures imposed by the Saudi Arabian government to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims.
During his visit to Malaysia, Al-Rabiah met with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss ways to improve facilities and services for Malaysian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. They also explored opportunities to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in areas such as trade, aviation, and higher education. The Saudi delegation reviewed future plans for developing services for pilgrims and discussed potential collaborations to enrich and improve their overall experience. This visit highlighted the commitment of both countries to ensuring a smooth and meaningful pilgrimage for all visitors to the Holy Sites.
