Jeddah: The Makkah Bus project has launched a new route linking the Grand Mosque to the Hira Cultural District, aiming to improve connectivity between religious and cultural sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The route offers direct access to the cultural district, including the Revelation Exhibition, the Museum of the Holy Qur’an, various educational facilities, and the Cave of Hira.

This expansion is part of the growing Makkah Bus network, which now comprises 12 routes, 400 buses, and 431 stations covering 580 km, serving over 188 million passengers on more than 4 million trips.

The route is implemented under the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites and managed by the General Transport Center, which plans, regulates, and operates Makkah’s transport network.

The Makkah Bus project is a key part of a strategy to modernize public transport in the holy city, providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation for residents and visitors.

Routes cover main streets, secondary roads, and neighborhood connections, offering an alternative to private cars, reducing congestion, and lowering environmental pollution.

The project aims to provide a world-class public transport system for residents and pilgrims and is part of the Pilgrim Experience Program supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.