Saudi Arabia enhances travel...

Kingdom prepares for surge in religious tourism with new initiatives and openings

Saudi Arabia is preparing for the 2025 Hajj season and enhancing the pilgrim travel experience through a number of initiatives, from easier visa process and flight booking to improved infrastructure and new hotels and cultural sites.

One of those initiatives is Almosafer, a leading travel company in Saudi, signing a partnership with the Ministry of Hajj & Umrah to improve flight bookings on the Nusuk Hajj platform, the exclusive official platform licensed by the Ministry for delivering Hajj services. This will assist pilgrims from 120 countries as they travel to the Kingdom.

The partnership enhances "the availability of flights at competitive rates and extends the reach of the Nusuk Hajj platform to pilgrims globally," said E. Abdullah Jamal Jadkarim, Executive Director of Direct Hajj Program at the Ministry of Hajj & Umrah.

Religious tourism plays a crucial role in Saudi’s economic diversification plan, with more than 18.5 million pilgrims from outside the kingdom performing Hajj and Umrah in 2024, and a goal to welcome 30 million by 2030.

The Pilgrim Experience Program has worked with government entities and the private sector to digitise and streamline services for pilgrims. Steps include e-visas, the launch of the high-speed Haramain train between Jeddah airport and the Holy Sites, and a new app. The programme has also enhanced 15 historically and culturally significant Islamic sites.

As part of its Vision 2030 initiative to diversify the economy and boost tourism, Saudi plans 320,000 additional hotel rooms, with an estimated 221,000 of those located in the Holy Cities. Recent openings include Madinah debuts for Rotana, Radisson and the Four Seasons, collectively adding 923 keys, as well as two Golden Tulip hotels in each of the Holy Cities.

Four Seasons Hotel Madinah

The Kingdom is improving its transportation infrastructure to handle the surge in visitors. The Haramain railway has increased capacity for Hajj, and Saudi authorities have approved airlines for pilgrim transportation, including Flynas, Fly Khiva Uzbekistan, Air Peace Limited, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited.

Saudi low-cost carrier Flyadeal recently added a new route between Madinah and Cairo in Egypt.

The kingdom will also open a new cable car system in 2025 to connect pilgrims with the Cave of Hira on Mecca's Jabal Al Noor, which holds religious significance as the site where the Prophet Mohammed received his first revelation of the Holy Quran.

The initiative, aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience, will connect visitors to the cave, and is part of a broader development plan, which includes the completion of the Hira Cultural District and the opening of three new museums in Jabal Omar, also scheduled for 2025.

Saudi has also implemented measures to streamline the pilgrimage visa process. The Makkah Route Initiative allows pilgrims to complete entry procedures in their home countries, thereby avoiding queues and waiting times on arrival. Countries that benefit from this include Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, Bangladesh, Türkiye and the Ivory Coast.

Visa issuance for Hajj is due to begin on 19 February 2025, with Hajj expected to take place in early June 2025.

Looking to the future, two mega projects in Medinah will facilitate the roll-out of even more hotels and cultural attractions. A mixed-use development, Islamic World District (IWD) will feature a museum, a cultural centre and a plaza dedicated to showcasing Islamic cultures from around the world.

IHG will bring 1,057 rooms to IWD with the opening of the Holiday Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express in 2029, Marriott will open 1,200 rooms across three of its brands – Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton and Residence Inn by Marriott – and two Park Inn by Radisson hotels will add 733 rooms and serviced apartments to the offerings here.

IHG will also open its ultra-luxury Regent brand in Makkah, offering unobstructed views of the Holy Mosque, Masjid al-Haram and Al Kaaba, as well as wellness experiences.

Meanwhile, Hilton is opening three hotels (1,600 keys) at Rua Al Madinah, another mega project located next to the Prophet’s Mosque that is also set to welcome the Four Seasons, eight Marriott properties and five Accor hotels including The Ritz-Carlton, Swissotel and Novotel.

For more information, visit hajj.nusuk.sa

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