The Kingdom’s Airports Enhance Operational Readiness to Serve Hajj Pilgrims
Jeddah : The arrival and departure of Hajj pilgrims require comprehensive operational readiness at the Kingdom’s airports. This entails coordination among relevant stakeholders, optimizing operational efficiency, and streamlining travel procedures to ensure the smooth and safe movement of passengers, while strengthening the aviation ecosystem’s capacity to manage the high volume of flights during the Hajj season.
These efforts are highlighted at the sixth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition, held in Jeddah under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud—may God protect him—from November 8 to 11. Centered on the theme “From Makkah to the World,” the event features “Matarat Holding” within a unified pavilion alongside various entities from the aviation and airport sector. The pavilion showcases initiatives and services designed to enhance the experience of Hajj pilgrims from the moment they arrive in the Kingdom until their departure.
“Matarat Holding” plays a pivotal role in bolstering airport readiness by overseeing the operations of 27 airports across the Kingdom through its subsidiaries—Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and the Cluster 2 Airports company. These efforts contribute to improving operational efficiency, elevating service standards, and supporting the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy. Operational readiness at airports takes on particular significance during the Hajj season, given the intense volume of international and domestic flights. This necessitates the integration of operational plans, regulatory and security procedures, and enhanced coordination among all relevant stakeholders. Such efforts ensure the smooth flow of travelers, streamline arrival and departure processes, and maintain the efficiency of services provided to the pilgrims—the “Guests of the Merciful.”
During its participation in the conference, “Matarat Holding” is showcasing several initiatives aimed at improving the travel experience. A key highlight is the “Baggage-Free Traveler” service, which allows passengers to complete check-in procedures and dispatch their luggage from their place of residence before heading to the airport. This helps reduce processing times within airport terminals, facilitates passenger movement, and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to developing airports and enhancing their operational readiness.
The unified pavilion brings together the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Matarat Holding, Jeddah Airports, the Cluster 2 Airports Company, Taibah Airports, and Air Arabia. This collaboration underscores the integrated roles of regulatory bodies, operational entities, and air carriers, providing a platform to present joint solutions and initiatives, while exploring opportunities for cooperation to further improve services for travelers.
These efforts contribute to strengthening the capacity of the Kingdom’s airports to manage travel demand during the Hajj season. By developing operational infrastructure, refining travel procedures, and enhancing coordination among relevant stakeholders, these initiatives support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the “Guests of the Merciful” (Pilgrim Experience) Program—ultimately elevating the quality of services and ensuring a seamless journey for pilgrims, from their arrival until their departure.
