86 years ago… First bus for pilgrims

Saudi newspapers and social networks published what they said was the first bus to transport Muslim pilgrims to Makkah nearly 86 years ago.

The first motorised means of transport began to gradually replace camels and mules used by Saudis and Muslims in other countries to visit the holy sites in the Western towns of Makkah and Madinah to perform the annual haj (pilgrimage).

Trips on camels from Arab countries such as Syria and Lebanon to Makkah took several months.