King Salman bin Abdulaziz/Image: SPA

As uncertainty disrupts travel across the region, Saudi Arabia has stepped forward with a large-scale hospitality effort in Makkah. The Makkah Chamber of Commerce has allocated 2,500 fully equipped hotel rooms to host citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries stranded at airports across the Kingdom, following a directive from King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The decision comes after the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques approved the hosting of all stranded GCC nationals and ordered that their comfort be ensured until conditions allow for their safe return home. The directive calls for facilitating all necessary procedures to host and honour citizens of GCC states, while providing them with full support and hospitality throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia. In swift response, the Makkah Chamber initiated the required logistical arrangements. Hotels across the city have been mobilised to receive guests, with 2,500 rooms prepared and supported by comprehensive services to ensure comfort and proper care. Abdulmohsen Al-Ajlan, Chairman of the Hotels and Tourism Committee at the Chamber, confirmed the scale of the allocation and said the effort reflects the Kingdom’s human-centred approach. He stressed that supporting stranded GCC nationals demonstrates solidarity with neighbouring Gulf states, adding that Makkah remains a welcoming home for all who arrive on its land. The initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to regional unity and hospitality during times of disruption, ensuring that stranded travellers are accommodated with dignity until they can safely return to their countries.