GACA concludes its participation in the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah

January 12, 2024

Today, the General Authority of Civil Aviation concluded its participation in the third edition of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition 2024, which was organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in partnership with the Pilgrim ExperienceProgram. It continued for 4 days, from January 8 to 11, in Superdome, Jeddah.

While observing a booth that featured the air transport system, GACA reviewed the programs and services provided to the Umrah visitors. These advanced services are indicative of a qualitative shift and are contributing majorly in facilitating the Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, simplifying the procedures from their arrival till their departure. Additionally, the authorities also offer electronic services in order to provide ease for the pilgrims, in accordance with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

GACA discussed its initiatives aiming to serve the Umrah visitors at the Kingdom’s airports,  focusing on expanding air traffic, in alignment with the Saudi Aviation Strategy. These include the “Mecca Road” initiative, which seeks to streamline the arrival procedures for pilgrims to the Kingdom, by completing all necessary procedures such as customs and passport processes before departure. This effort to reduce waiting times and improve the flow of pilgrims at airports, has benefited more than 240,000 pilgrims. Similarly, the “Passenger Without Bag Initiative” enables pilgrims to complete their travel and baggage procedures, and receive baggage tags from home, prior to their flights, and lets them board the plane comfortably. Furthermore, the “Zamzam Packages Pre-Charge Initiative” aims to pre-charge Zamzam packages on transit flights.

The civil aviation booth was visited by His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah. There, he was briefed on GACA’s initiatives and the system’s efforts in providing the best services to the Umrah visitors. His Excellency also honored GACA’s team participating in the preparatory meetings of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah with the Hajj Affairs offices of various countries, where His Excellency delivered his greeting in the presence of His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, the Director General of the General Administration of Hajj and Umrah Affairs at the Authority, Eng Mazen Bazhair. A memorial held in appreciation of the efforts made and the continuous coordination of the Authority with the entities working within the Hajj and Umrah system.

His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, visited the booths of the entities participating in the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition, briefing His Excellency during the tour on the most prominent services provided to the Umrah visitors, the pilgrims and Umrah performers, and the initiatives presented by the entities participating in Exhibition.

On the sidelines of GACA’s participation in the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition, the Air Transport System booth witnessed several bilateral meetings, where His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation met with His Excellency the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Yaqut Khalil Qumas, during which the two sides discussed the procedures for scheduling flights allocated to pilgrims for this year. 1445 AH, and the quality of services provided to them. His Excellency also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Youssef Maitama Togar, during which they discussed appointing air carriers to transport pilgrims between the two countries, in addition to scheduling Hajj flights for 1445 AH, in addition to his meeting with the President of Civil Aviation of the Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Baba Ahmed, During the meeting, they discussed the transportation of Mauritanian pilgrims for Hajj in 1445 AH, and the procedures for appointing air carriers, in addition to discussing the start of operation of the Mauritanian carrier with direct flights from Nouakchott to Medina at a rate of two flights per week, during the first quarter of 2024.

GACA’s participation comes to introduce the programs and initiatives offered at the Kingdom’s airports to serve the guests of God and the most important and latest topics related to the shift towards innovation and its returns on this vital sector, and its interaction with the relevant government agencies through integration, empowerment and communication, in addition to a number of its recent projects, and highlighting technical solutions and platforms. Digital services provided by GACA as part of the sector’s strategy with the aim of improving the services provided to the guests of God and facilitating the service of pilgrims and Umrah performers.

It is noteworthy that the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition is an important window for consolidating the bonds of communication with various countries and peoples of the Arab and Islamic world, regionally and globally, based on the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which presents an integrated strategy for developing the Hajj and Umrah system by harnessing the energies and capabilities to serve the guests of God, and providing Specific programs and initiatives, and working to develop decision-making processes and sustain the quality of services.