JEDDAH: More than 3,000 foreign pilgrims on 19 flights arrived at the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) on Tuesday, the first day for the arrival of Haj flights in the present Haj season. Director General of King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) Mazen Khashoggi told Arab News that this year’s Haj would witness a qualitative shift in pilgrim services. Pilgrims are being received at 13 gates. Eight new air bridges will be ready for serving them shortly, the official said.
Regarding the new arrangement for the smooth arrival and departure of pilgrim aircraft, the director said, “The peak season of arrivals and departures of pilgrims this year has been extended to 21 days instead of 10 days as in the past. The number of inbound flights each hour at the beginning of Haj will be limited to six for arrival and five for departure at the end.”
The official added that as Haj pilgrims were given top priority at the airport, all service centers and counters for pilgrims have been manned with additional staff.
In a related development, the Passport Department has improved its activities at KAIA, Jeddah Islamic Port and Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah — the major entry points for Makkah and Madinah.
In another development, the Passport Department has begun accepting applications for Haj permits from domestic Haj establishments from Oct. 4 and will continue until Nov. 17. While Saudis will get their permits from the Civil Status Department, expatriates will get them from the Passport Department in their respective regions. Applications for expatriate permits should be accompanied by a contract with a licensed domestic Haj establishment for essential services.
Meanwhile, the Madinah branch of the Ministry of Pilgrimage has started providing services for the large influx of pilgrims through various government departments, reception centers and field committees, its director has confirmed.
Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Bijawi told Arab News the ministry’s plan for this year’s Haj, which was approved by Haj Minister Dr. Fouad Abdul Salam Al-Farsi, was aimed at providing around-the-clock services to pilgrims the moment they arrive to when they depart. “This is done through reinforcing the field presence of the committees for services, support and monitoring and by intensifying coordination among the various committees of the ministry, the Private Establishment for Guides (PEG) and other parties concerned with extending services to the pilgrims,” he explained.
Al-Bijawi indicated that the ministry’s plan was also focused on using computers to authenticate accommodation contracts for the Haj missions, tourist companies and travel agencies. “The plan will also expand the use of e-mail in data exchange between the ministry and other concerned parties, which will ensure speedy coordination in providing the required services,” he added.
Al-Bijawi also said the program to monitor departing buses at the grouping center in Kilo 9 will be enhanced to record all basic information about pilgrims.
He said the branch would endeavor to achieve the ministry’s plan through a number of programs including those for reception, grouping and departure. He explained that reception centers include Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport, the arrival and departure center at Kilo 9 in Al-Hirah Street, five pilgrims’ services units around the Prophet’s Mosque and 25 field offices for the PEG in addition to hotels, furnished apartments and religious and historic sites usually visited by the pilgrims.
The Yanbu seaport is another inlet for the pilgrims, while northern land entrances include: Halat Ammar, Al-Hidaitha and Arar, amongst others.
