A Brand-New Airport
Most who have flown to Saudi know the discomfort of Jeddah airport. Walilahilhamd, the airport has either been largely modified or demolished and re-erected entirely. It is a testament to the power and grace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and my experience throughout was pleasant. Upon arrival we walked out of the plane, up the ramp, turned left down the corridors and proceeded to a new rail system. It was clean and flourished with natural light throughout. We exited the train to an atrium that preceded the global entry desks. Niqabi attendants called us forward and checked our documents.
They were keen to verify passports, iqamas and iqama validity, vaccine cards and Muqeem registrations. As mentioned in our previous article we had little issue here apart from one of our brothers having to present his visa validity confirmation from the Ministry of Health website. Once we completed this process we proceeded to a light screening and then to baggage claim.
NOTE: You must get your bags when transferring from the international flight to a domestic one. No exceptions.
Our bags came around swiftly and then we proceeded a short way to recheck them for our next flight. All we needed to do here was show our boarding passes for out flight to Madinah. The attendants directed to an elevator.
Don’t Leave Baggage Claim
Here I would like to point out a mistake that we made. Instead of proceeding through the doors to the elevator we should have left out after checking our bags as though Jeddah was our final destination. The reason being, that exit and the corridor following it is the only way to access the Mobile carrier kiosks inside of the airport.
NOTE: When you arrive, get your bags, and check them take a moment to ask which way to the mobile carriers like Zain, STC and Mobily and get your SIM and register Absher before moving on. (More details to follow.)
We ended up taking the long way around though. We went through security, got to our gate, freshened up and offered our prayers in one of the airport's musallahs. We prayed as a group with social distancing. We then took a moment to ask questions and eventually realized that we had to essentially leave the airport again to get to the SIM card kiosks. Once we had gone back through security we met resistance when it became clear that we had to re-enter to get to the baggage claim area which is only available to arriving passengers leaving the terminal. At first, they would not let us enter, then with the help of a customer service agent I was permitted and eventually so we're the rest of us. The take away here is don’t leave baggage claim without a SIM.
SIM and Tawakkalna
Getting a SIM, having Absher and Tawakkalna sorted on your phone is its own little ecosystem of confusion that I have yet to fully parse. The following should help you understand at least where to start and what to expect. (This bit has been copied from our previous article “The Return”. See that for more details on the procedures required by the Jamiah and the Kingdom.
Tawakkalna is an application used as sort of a passport on your phone that’s needed to get into places like Saudi government buildings, restaurants, stores, and the like. It tracks your vaccination history and reports on a regular basis to your phone your current health standing.
Getting Tawakkalna requires a Saudi Calling and Texting SIM card (not just internet), Absher Registration on that active SIM and an internet connection to download the app and get started. The best way to start on Tawakkalna is to:
1. Download Tawakkalna in the U.S.
2. Tell the Ticket agent before your flight that you will register it as soon as you arrive.
3. At your port of entry find a phone carrier booth like Zain, STC or Mobily
Getting A New SIM: Month to month plans require an Absher account because they access your previous Absher phone number which is presumably expired and inaccessible. The Zain agent instructed the Jamiah students coming back to:
1. Get a onetime sim plan (Umrah package (calling + network))
2. Register the new number on Absher with the carrier agent
3. Get a month-to-month plan when that one runs out
NOTE: if your plan has been inactive for more than 3 months you must follow this process.
Once you have service, Absher and internet, you may then sign up as a resident in the app which requires your iqama number and personal details. There was a curious page in the setup process for me that did not allow me to move on until I chose a place of residence. However, since I was in Jeddah, they did not allow me to choose a location in Madinah. After deleting and re-installing the app a few times it eventually did work but not until I got to Madinah. The application can be frustrating especially when your ability to move in and out of crucial situations hinges on it functioning, but I can report that since I activated my account it has not failed me.
NOTE: Keep it on the first page that has “immune” and a picture of you at all times. Guards, police, officials, and shop owners of medium to large stores want to see it upon entry.
Madinah Finally!
Walhamdullilah, once we fixed our SIM situation getting back through security the second time was as easy as the first. We hurried to our gate and sat for a bit before boarding began. When showed the ticket agent our boarding passes and he requested to see Tawakkalna. Since none of us had it completed to that point, he waved us through telling us to complete it on the other end. We took our seats and enjoyed a quick flight to Madinah. When we arrived our bags were practically waiting for us and before long, we were meeting with brothers who had arrived the day before and had come to greet us. After a brief wait in the airport, exchanging money, catching up, renewing Absher and fiddling with Tawakkalna we split up, jumped in the cars, and pushed on to the Jamiah.
Allahu Akbar! Madinah is just as breathtaking as ever. We stopped at a local masjid to pray in the Sultana area. We finally arrived at the main Jamiah gate around 9pm. We were worried that the guard would press us for Tawakkalna but alhamdullilah the brother driving had it, I had Sehaty working, and the attendant waved us through.
NOTE: Even though the Sehaty application has vaccine information recorded and is more stable than Tawakkalna it is not a substitute. This appears to have been a fluke and definitely a mercy from Allah. Regular procedure is that without Tawakkalna, even if a student is vaccinated, he must be sent to Wihda 5 for quarantine until he gets Tawakkalna working.
I got to my dorm room and placed my bags, choosing to rest for the night. Alhamdullilah our safar to Madinah was complete.
Questions?
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If you have a topic related to being in Madinah or abroad in general that you'd like to share, send us an email at info@ibntek.com. We're looking to provide as much information as possible to make this journey easier on all of us and with Allah is tawfeeq.
Coming Next إن شاء الله:
Money Exchange ▪️ Moving Around ▪️ Jamiah ▪️ Dorms ▪️ Istiqdam ▪️ Jamiah Bank Account ▪️ Make Umrah ▪️ Expired Passport ▪️ Applying to the Jamiah ▪️ Shu’oon At-Tulab ▪️ Yanbu ▪️ Travel in the Kingdom
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of IBNTEK or its members. This account does not substantiate all possibilities, rather acts only as reference for future study of processes and procedures.
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