Makkah Bus Project

TheMakkah Bus Project is part of the public transport strategy in Makkah al-Mukarramah City, launched by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites.

The Makkah Bus Project provides the city of Makkah al-Mukarramah with a globally safe, reliable, and trusted transportation system to serve the residents and guests of the Holy Kaaba. It is one of the initiatives of the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 Realization Programs.

The project offers public transportation services through twelve routes, covering main, secondary, and inter-district streets, aiming to reduce the number of cars on the roads of Makkah al-Mukarramah, thus lowering environmental pollution and traffic congestion.

The pilot operation of the first phase of the project began on February 15, 2022, through the Unified Center for Transport in Makkah (Makkah Transport). It operates on a route connecting the Haramain High Speed Railway station in the Rusaifah District to the Mount Omar station near the courtyards of the Grand Mosque. The project provides a commuter transport service, aiming to serve around one hundred thousand people daily after three years of operation, and around two hundred thousand people daily in the sixth year of operation, taking into account the increase in numbers during the Hajj season and the month of Ramadan. The project operates at its capacity and operational capability for twenty-two hours daily, and twenty-four hours daily during peak seasons.

The Makkah Bus Project has established a fixed and approved timetable for trips. Passengers can obtain trip schedules through smart information boards at stations, through the smartphone application, or the dedicated website. The project includes four hundred buses, divided into 240 regular buses with a capacity of eighty-five passengers each, and 160 articulated buses with a capacity of 125 people

The General Transport Center at the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites implements an operational plan during the Ramadan season, which includes increasing the number of buses on some routes, reducing the waiting time between trips, and enhancing operational readiness. The plan for Ramadan in 2023 included some modifications to the routes, including the departure of buses for route five from Kudai Station to al-Awali, the departure of the first part of route six from Umm al-Qura University, which turns before the tunnels of Mahbas al-Jinn towards southern Aziziyah, as well as the departure of the second part of route six from the Haramain Railway station in Rusaifah to Mount Kaaba station (Jarwal). Additionally, the buses for route A7 depart from the Haramain Railway station in Rusaifah to the western Mount Kaaba station under the first circular, and buses for route eleven depart from Ibrahim al-Khalil Street, al-Misfalah neighborhood, to al-Shuhada neighborhood, passing through al-Kaakia, al-Shawqiya, and ar-Rusaifah. The plan kept routes (one, two, three, eight, ten, twelve) unchanged.

The Makkah Bus Project supports the transportation plans for pilgrims during the Hajj season, set by the relevant authorities. A unified visual identity for the project has been applied to bus stations and stops throughout the city of Makkah al-Mukarramah. The bus network is distributed across twelve routes covering a total length of 559 km, served by 455 bus stops. There are four main stations in the central area, each connected to the bus systems through a central control room. These stations are equipped with security cameras, customer service offices, lost and found offices, and waiting shelters for passengers.

The Makkah buses offer a fast option for reaching various destinations, with a waiting time at stops ranging between five to seven minutes. The buses feature fire suppression systems, environmental protection and reduced carbon emissions, and security systems with surveillance cameras inside and outside the bus. They are equipped with collision avoidance systems, electronic screens showing the destination, and a hydraulic system to facilitate the boarding of people with disabilities. There are also designated spaces for strollers and wheelchairs, Wi-Fi service on every bus, and an audio-visual system for trip information inside the bus. Additionally, the bus scheduling system is effectively managed to meet transportation needs during regular days, peak times, and seasons, with up to twenty-four hours of daily operation. Route six has been launched to serve students of Umm al-Qura University.

Passengers of Makkah buses can purchase tickets through three methods. The first method is through the mobile application or the website by creating an account, adding a payment card, topping up the account, selecting the destination, choosing the type of ticket, and finally purchasing the ticket. The second method is through ticket vending machines where passengers select their destination, choose the type of ticket, enter the ticket price or payment card number, and then purchase the ticket. The third method is through ticket sales points where passengers go to a sales agent, specify their destination, and pay for the ticket either in cash or by using a payment card.