Shalawat Bus Service Resumes Full Operations in Makkah

At Ajyad, all three gates are open, while approximately 16 gates are fully operational at Syib Amir. Makkah (ANTARA) – The Shalawat bus service has resumed full operations from 1pm Saudi Arabia Time on Sunday (31 May) to facilitate the movement of Indonesian hajj pilgrims between hotels and the Grand Mosque. Head of Transport Services for the Indonesian Hajj Service Agency (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, Syarif Rahman, stated the service operates 24 hours a day free of charge with 458 buses covering 23 routes. “Pilgrims returning to Indonesia or heading to Madinah can now use the Shalawat bus service around the clock for tawaf al-ifadah and other religious activities,” Rahman said in Makkah on Sunday. He explained the service’s start time was adjusted from 1am to 1pm per Saudi authorities’ decision, to ensure pilgrims who had just completed the nafar tsani ritual in Mina have sufficient rest at their hotels. Rahman urged pilgrims to check their route cards for terminal names, bus numbers, and destinations to avoid getting lost. To prevent crowds after obligatory prayers at terminals, the PPIH has coordinated with local authorities to open all platform access gates. “At Ajyad, all three gates are open, while around 16 gates are fully operational at Syib Amir,” Rahman added. He noted that the bus fleet will be gradually reduced as Indonesian pilgrims begin to return home or travel to Madinah, with only 54 buses remaining on day 22 after the Hajj peak.