First flights from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, and India mark the official start of Hajj 2025, as Saudi Arabia rolls out streamlined entry services and world-class hospitality.

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Saudi Arabia has officially commenced its 2025 Hajj operations with the arrival of the first batch of pilgrims at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh Al-Jasser, was on hand in Jeddah to receive 396 pilgrims arriving from Dhaka, Bangladesh—marking the formal opening of this year’s pilgrimage season. Another 414 Bangladeshi pilgrims arrived shortly after, welcomed by the Bangladeshi Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, M. Delwar Hossain, alongside Saudi and Bangladeshi officials.

Al-Jasser confirmed that six major airports across the Kingdom have been designated to serve Hajj pilgrims: Jeddah, Madinah, Yanbu, Taif, Riyadh, and Dammam. He assured that an integrated logistics framework is in place to support pilgrims from arrival through to their spiritual journey, in line with Saudi Arabia’s commitment to its role as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Bangladesh expects to send over 87,000 pilgrims this year, with embassy and consulate teams already deployed to provide support across Saudi Arabia.

Also arriving on Tuesday was the first flight from Islamabad under the Makkah Route Initiative—a landmark Saudi programme easing immigration procedures for pilgrims before departure. The aircraft carried 442 Pakistani pilgrims directly to Madinah. Over 89,000 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj this year under the government scheme, with 342 flights scheduled through May 31.

Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, bid farewell to the first group in Islamabad. Yousaf urged pilgrims to be ambassadors of their nation by respecting Saudi laws and Islamic decorum. He also announced plans to visit the Kingdom to monitor arrangements and pledged swift resolution of any issues encountered by pilgrims.

In addition to Islamabad, flights departed from Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Multan, as Pakistan ramps up its nationwide Hajj operations.

Malaysia and India also joined the wave of arrivals on Tuesday. Pilgrims from Kuala Lumpur and Hyderabad landed in Madinah under the Makkah Route Initiative. The programme, coordinated by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior in partnership with multiple agencies, handles visa issuance, health verification, and immigration processes from the pilgrims’ home countries. Luggage is pre-coded and delivered directly to pilgrims’ accommodations in Makkah and Madinah.

As entry procedures were swiftly completed, pilgrims were warmly welcomed with flowers and souvenirs—a testament to the Kingdom’s ongoing investment in hospitality and efficiency.

With operational plans now fully activated, Saudi Arabia reaffirms its dedication to facilitating a seamless pilgrimage experience for guests of Allah from across the world.