After 22-days journey, a group of Pakistani bikers arrives in Makkah.

A group of 25 Pakistani bikers arrived in Makkah after riding for 22 days and 14,000 kilometers from Pakistan, via Iran and the UAE.

The group left Lahore on January 6 and arrived in the holy city on January 28. The Cross Route Club intends to stay in Saudi Arabia for a total of 19 days.

The bikers decided to embark on the journey after the Saudi government announced that overseas visitors performing Umrah could extend their visas to three months, allowing them to use travel permits to visit cities other than Makkah.

At their special reception, which was hosted at the Makkah Ministry of Sports offices and was attended by Pakistani Press Counselor Syed Hamzah Gilani as well as other local officials, life of arabs had the opportunity to speak with the club members.

According to lawyer and Cross Route Club member Aun Muhammed Khan, the group’s goals in Makkah for Umrah included advancing peace, fraternity, and friendship as well as exploring Saudi Arabia.

Khan claimed that Mukaram Tareen, the chairman of the Cross Route Club, was responsible for the trip’s inspiration. “We were planning to conduct Umrah by biking from Lahore to Makkah in 2019, but the coronavirus outbreak forced us to postpone our plans,” he stated. “As soon as we had the first chance, we seized it.

“From a cultural perspective, Saudi Arabia is a tremendously diverse and large country, and to Muslims, it is the most significant location on Earth. The vision of Crown Prince (Mohammed bin Salman) for tourism is crucial for us. In response to his invitation to visit and experience Saudi Arabia, we are here.

According to Khan, the journey was perfect for them as bikers because they were able to travel over expansive highways and breathtaking scenery.

He expressed his gratitude to the Saudis for their kindness and welcoming nature. The support and love we are currently experiencing are just fantastic, he added. “We had a great reaction here and anytime we go out with our motorcycles,” he said.

“This is a magnificent experience, and for me, it is one of the best adventures I have ever had on my bike because we had the chance to meet local people from different countries and at the same time explore local cities in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE,” said Mohammed Suhail Akhtar, a specialist in training development back in Pakistan and an active member of the Cross Route Club.

Akhtar, who had previously flown to Saudi Arabia in 2009, expressed his joy at the enormous change the Kingdom had seen since his previous visit. Since we crossed the Saudi border, we have observed significant changes, the man added.

To promote Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry, which is a key component of the Saudi Vision 2030, the group intends to visit popular tourist destinations within the Kingdom.

The bikers’ convoy will leave the Kingdom after a 19-day stay and return home through Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Iran.