Foreign Hajj pilgrims using Saudi Arabia's Makkah Route Initiative by country 2023
As of 2023, around 108.7 thousand pilgrims from Bangladesh benefitted from the Makkah Route Initiative before arriving by air in Saudi Arabia. The Makkah Router Initiative is an efficiency measure, where the Hajj pilgrims complete their entry procedure to Saudi Arabia at their home countries airport; and after arriving in Saudi Arabia are directly transported to their accommodation in Makkah or Madina after landing. The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that is considered a mandatory religious duty by practicing Muslims.