The Ministry of Haj is intending to develop and upgrade transportation facilities from various entry points to the holy cities and Jeddah to facilitate the smooth movement for Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar said in a statement released in the ministry’s internal journal on Wednesday that the Haj Ministry has been directed to conduct studies on the transport system and increased connectivity between Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah to all the entry points in the Kingdom.

The minister also said that the public transport system, particularly the train system, will play a vital role in the transportation of pilgrims.

The Haj minister also said that the Kingdom is looking beyond Jeddah, Madinah and Makkah to develop and upgrade the connectivity from all parts of the country to the holy cities.

He said that the Haj Ministry is planning to develop the reception centers on the land border check posts and at sea ports to receive pilgrims.

“The reception centers will have trained and skilled professionals to receive pilgrims and their performance will boost the Kingdom’s image,” he added.

He said that at present there are 16 entry points operating in the Kingdom which include three airports, two seaports and eleven land entry points.

Bandar Hajjar also noted that the ministry has recently decided to establish a pilgrims’ city in the port city of Yanbu at a cost of SR65 million.

Halat Ammar, Al-Hudaitha in Al-Quraiyat, Salwa and Al-Bat’ha in Al-Ahsa, Al-Raqi in Hafr Al-Batin, Jadidat Ar’ar in the Northern Frontier region, Alab in Asir, Al-Khadra in Najran and the King Fahd Causeway in the Eastern Province are the prominent and busiest land border entry points of the Kingdom.