About 800,000 pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the Muslim duty of hajj, Abdullah Nahhas, the general director of customs at Prince Mohamed bin Abdelaziz airport in Medina, said on Tuesday.
“Ninety percent of them arrived via the international airports of Prince Mohamed bin Abdelaziz and King Abdelaziz where the number of flights, from various destinations, reaches more than 60 flights per day,” Nahhas said, adding that the Customs Department is receiving pilgrims at more than 10 land border crossings and two naval and aerial border crossings as well.
He added that next Monday will be the last date on which the kingdom will receive pilgrims via land border crossings while next Wednesday will be the last day to receive them via aerial checkpoints.
According to Nahhas, the Customs Department had devised several plans to facilitate the entry of pilgrims into Saudi Arabia.
Nahhas also noted that Prince Mohamed bin Abdelaziz Airport is using modern equipment to check bags and packages, adding that an extra transit hall has been added this year to facilitate the entry of pilgrims.
Prince Mohamed bin Abdelaziz Airport received its first batch of 220 pilgrims, who arrived from Delhi, last Thursday.
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