As part of the “Mecca Road” project, Turkish pilgrims will now be able to complete all necessary procedures at Ankara Esenboğa Airport before traveling to Saudi Arabia, streamlining their journey to the holy cities. With the installation of a facial recognition system at Esenboğa, pilgrims can proceed directly to their hotels in Saudi Arabia without undergoing additional procedures at airports, saving considerable time.
Inauguration Ceremony
The project was officially launched with a ceremony attended by prominent officials, including Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, Colonel Mansour Alotaibi, Director General of Hac and Umrah Passport Affairs at the Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Ankara Fahad Bin Assaad Bin A. Abu Al-Nasr. The ceremony included the inauguration of a special section at Esenboğa Airport designated for Saudi officials, marked by a ribbon-cutting event.
Streamlined Process and Time Savings
Ambassador Abu Al-Nasr guided Governor Şahin through the newly designated area where Turkish pilgrims will complete the necessary procedures with Saudi officials. With passport controls and other details managed before departure, pilgrims are expected to save approximately six hours. The new process ensures that pilgrims will not have to wait at Esenboğa Airport, enhancing the overall travel experience.
Benefits and Future Expansion
Approximately 20,000 pilgrims will benefit from the Mecca Road Project this year, with time-consuming procedures like passport and fingerprint checks being conducted by Saudi officials at Istanbul and Esenboğa Airports. As the project grows, it is expected to expand to other major airports in Türkiye, further increasing convenience for pilgrims and accommodating a larger number of travelers in the future.
