The "Hajj Without Luggage" initiative, run by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah with partner bodies, is being applied this year to all international pilgrims for the first time, as part of the wider overhaul of the Kingdom's Hajj and Umrah system.

The service ships pilgrims' bags directly from their accommodation at home to their accommodation in Makkah or Madinah, and does the same on the way back. Specialized logistics companies collect, transport, process and track the luggage until delivery, so pilgrims do not have to carry it at any stage of the journey.

The initiative has cut the time needed to complete pilgrims' procedures from 120 minutes to just 15 minutes. It has also eased congestion at airports, speeded up arrivals and departures and lightened the load on pilgrims, especially the elderly and the sick.

It relies on technical and operational links between companies serving international pilgrims, airport baggage handlers and digital systems, with pilgrim and luggage data connected through the Nusuk platform so bags can be tracked accurately and securely throughout.

The aim is to improve the pilgrim's experience from departure to return by removing traditional luggage burdens, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to develop the Hajj and Umrah sector through innovative solutions.