The change in the kingdoms transportation regulations for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims at the end of the 1990s, offered a unique business opportunity for a well-managed operational bus company that could offer a fleet of modern, comfortable and well-serviced buses
Consequently in 1998 the Hafil Transportation Company was formed by the Mohamed Yousuf Naghi & Brothers Group with an initial fleet of 800 buses customised for Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims.
Since that time Hafil has expanded and diversified their area of operations to encompass other bus/coach activities to include school transportation, contract transportation and conventional short and long distance coach services.
To serve these areas various other types of vehicles have been added to the Hafil fleet ranging from Luxury Pullman coaches through to inner-city buses, taxi vans, and school buses as well as new specifically customised Hajj buses.
An example of the successful Hafil expansion is the contract for the Saudi Ministry of Education to provide bus services for girls’ schools & colleges in various regions throughout the kingdom.
Hafil now has a fleet of over 12,000 vehicles and fully equipped workshop and service centres depots/service centres throughout the kingdom, making it one of the largest bus and coach companies in the Middle East.
Each Operating Division of Hafil, be it Hajj/Umrah, School Transportation, Public Transport etc. has its own effective management team and operational staff, all supported with the latest in IT facilities and a 24/7 vehicle tracking system consequently they are able to provide a comprehensive service in the spectrum of Public and Private Transportation to suit todays exacting market requirements.
With its principal operation and service centre situated in Shumaisy on the outskirts of Makkah, Hafil is ideally located to provide a comprehensive and effective service for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims which includes:
• Baggage and Luggage shipping/transportation services in special trucks
• International Transportation arrangements
• Religious/Historical sites transportation
• Prayer transportation from hotels in Makkah & Madinah to Haram
and return (Salawat Services)
• Hajj & Umrah Transportation from ports and airports
In fact the effectiveness of the Hafil Hajj & Umrah division is clearly demonstrated in that that it now carries almost 40% of Hajj Pilgrims
Following several successful years of Hajj and Umrah transportation services Hafil utilised the experienced gained in volume people movement to set up a School Transport Division. Having secured the contract from the Saudi Ministry of Education for daily bus services in numerous regions throughout the kingdom. Hafil added to their existing fleet, numerous new buses specifically suited for school services.
Accordingly Hafil now carries daily over thousands of pupils to and from their respective schools.
Apart from the Hajj/Umrah and School Transport contract Hafil also operates a comprehensive Bus & Coach service both for termed contracts and singular hire operation.
The diversity of Hafil’s operation in this sector ranges from workers transport to special events such as sports, exhibitions, site visits etc.
Hafil with its years of operational experience in the Kingdom also supplies a complete Public Transportation system which can be tailored to individual municipality requirements. To this end the group has reached a comprehensive joint venture agreement with the National Express Group out of the UK who are one of the largest public and private transportation companies not only in Europe but also other continents such as North America.
Hafil with its purpose built large main operation centre in Shumaisy near Makkah, together with other depots and service centres in throughout Saudi Arabia, is able to offer both its own operations and sub-contractors an effective and efficient Maintenance & Repair service.
The various workshops are managed and staffed by fully qualified personnel with intrinsic knowledge of what is required to ensure that coaches and buses are maintained to the dully required standard of safety and operational functionability.
The static Workshop operations are backed up by mobile workshop units and heavy duty recovery vehicles consequently the Hafil Repair & Maintenance Division is fully equipped to offer a fully integrated Service, Repair & Recovery facility to transport operators.