DAMMAM, 11 January — Authorities are putting the final touches to preparations at different points in the Eastern Province for receiving pilgrims traveling to the Kingdom by road. Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd and his deputy Prince Saud ibn Naif asked concerned officials to make sure that pilgrims have a safe and comfortable passage on their way to the holy cities.
There are four points through which pilgrims arrive in the Kingdom by road. King Fahd Causeway connects Bahrain with Alkhobar, and every year a sizable number of pilgrims travel from Manama to Makkah via Alkhobar. Each year the Causeway Authority makes special arrangements for the comforts of the pilgrims and puts more officials at customs and immigration posts to speed up procedures. They also set up tents and water facilities for the pilgrims.
Another entry point is Batha, nearly 300 kilometers from Al-Hasa. Pilgrims from the United Arab Emirates enter the Kingdom from this checkpoint, which handles the largest number of pilgrims using roads to Makkah. During the peak days before the Haj, up to 30 buses transit here every day. The customs and immigration authorities are setting up additional counters to meet the rush while Tawafa Organization is making arrangements for the comforts of the pilgrims.
The third entry point is Salwa, though there is not much rush at this checkpoint as it handles only pilgrims from Qatar.
Khafji is the fourth entry point. Pilgrims from Kuwait arrive there and although not many pilgrims go by road, the authorities still gear themselves to receive any number of travelers.
A Passport Directorate official said that all the checkpoints were fully computerized and equipped with the latest technology and the personnel trained for the special purpose of pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, King Fahd International Airport has also made arrangements to expedite onward journey of Haj pilgrims arriving here.
The Passport Directorate in Dammam began issuing Haj permits yesterday. Expatriate residents are required to present a permission from their sponsors together with copies of the Iqama and passport to get the Haj permit. The last date for obtaining permission is Feb. 23.
