He said that detailed studies for a world-class airport in the holy city have been completed. The strategic, economic, and investment directions for the airport in Makkah have been approved, and plans are underway to develop the most suitable investment model for this project with the private sector, Al-Rasheed stated. He added that the project is designed to serve both residents and visitors, while ensuring it does not affect the economic sustainability of existing airports in nearby cities. Al-Rasheed also confirmed progress on the long-awaited Makkah Metro project. He said that feasibility studies and initial designs have been finalized. He noted that the feasibility studies and initial designs have been completed and submitted to the relevant authorities to complete the necessary procedures in preparation for launching the next phases. The metro is expected to play a key role in reducing congestion and improving mobility, especially during peak pilgrimage periods. Significant progress has already been made in strengthening Makkah’s public transport system, particularly in bus services, he added. According to Al-Rasheed, Makkah’s bus network currently includes 400 buses operating on 12 routes, covering a total distance of 580 kilometers. The network serves 430 stations, with four main stations in the central area. Since the service was launched in February 2022, it has served more than 185 million passengers, with over 3.8 million completed trips, he said. He stated that Makkah’s traffic infrastructure has also undergone significant upgrades to accommodate growing traffic and improve access to key religious sites. Al-Rasheed mentioned that the main sections of the first, second, and third ring roads have been completed and opened, with improved connectivity to routes leading to the Grand Mosque and holy sites, including King Abdul Aziz Road and Ibrahim Al Khalil Road. Efforts have also been made to expand and enhance the city’s entry points.