Mecca — the holiest city in Islam — is set to receive its own international airport for the first time. Saleh al-Rashid, Director General of the Royal Commission for Mecca City and Holy Sites (RCMC), confirmed that the strategic, economic, and investment directions for the Mecca airport project have been approved. The Commission plans to partner with the private sector to develop an appropriate investment model for the project.
Currently, Mecca has no operational international airport. Most foreign pilgrims fly into King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah — approximately 100 kilometres away — and travel to the holy city by road. Mecca's mountainous terrain poses significant challenges for aviation: turbulence zones, complex approach procedures, and issues with visibility and weather conditions. In 2024, Saudi Arabia conducted experiments with unmanned electric aircraft to explore their potential for emergency and medical transport.
Alongside the airport, a metro system is also in development. Al-Rashid confirmed that feasibility studies and preliminary designs have been completed and submitted to the relevant authorities. The city's current public transport network consists of 400 buses operating across 12 routes spanning 580 kilometres — since its launch in 2022, the service has carried over 185 million passengers through the holy city.
The scale of the challenge is immense. In 2024, more than 1.6 million pilgrims performed the Hajj, with over 1.5 million arriving from abroad. Pilgrims from Europe, the Americas, and Australia accounted for 3.2% of the total. The Hajj lasts between five and six days, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, and is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for every Muslim who has the financial and physical means to undertake it. Umrah, by contrast, is a voluntary pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of year.
The new transport infrastructure aims to fundamentally transform the logistics of one of the world's largest annual human gatherings, making the journey to Islam's holiest site smoother and more accessible for millions of believers.
How will Mecca's new airport and metro transform the Hajj pilgrimage experience for millions of Muslims?
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