13 January 2025

 His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Emir of Makkah Region, today honored the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) with the ‘Labaytum’ award for excellence in serving the Hajj pilgrims. The award was received by His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA, at the fourth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah.

The honor was in recognition of GACA’s initiative to develop the regulatory framework for the ‘Passengers with No Bags' service, which was implemented by MATARAT Holding Company. The service had a positive impact in enhancing, facilitating and organizing the departure procedures for pilgrims during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.

‘Passengers with No Bags' aims to enable arriving and departing travelers to move without the hassle of transporting their luggage. This improves the travel experience and provides more comfort for the Hajj pilgrims, contributing to achieving the Kingdom’s vision to provide exceptional services to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

In addition, a memorandum of understanding was signed at the event in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region; His Excellency Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah; His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation; and His Excellency Dr. Abdulfattah bin Suleiman Mashat, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, to facilitate and streamline the air travel departure procedures for the guests of God.

The memorandum is part of the joint cooperation between government agencies to achieve common goals in serving the guests of God and setting a general framework for joint efforts, activities, and missions.

It is worth noting that GACA is participating within the Transport System Pavilion at the fourth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2025 held under the slogan ‘A Passage to Nusuk.’ The event is organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in Jeddah Superdome, from January 13 to 16.

GACA’s participation aims to enhance cooperation with relevant government agencies through integration, empowerment, and communication to provide a smooth and distinctive experience for Hajj pilgrims.