Hajj pilgrims continue to arrive from all over the world to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, with the number of arrivals from abroad exceeding one and a half million pilgrims, despite the tensions and weather challenges facing the region.
Hajj Numbers This Year
Brigadier General Saleh Al-Murab, commander of Hajj border forces, announced in a press conference on Friday evening that the total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153 pilgrims so far. This number is expected to rise in the coming two days as pilgrims continue to arrive before the official rituals begin on Monday.
The comparison with last year is interesting—last year, the Kingdom received 1,673,320 pilgrims, of whom 1,506,576 were from outside Saudi Arabia. This means that this year’s numbers are very close to last year’s despite the exceptional circumstances.
Challenges Faced by Pilgrims
This year’s Hajj season comes amid regional tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February and the subsequent Iranian responses. This led to widespread disruptions in air traffic and a significant increase in travel costs.
However, major airlines in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain worked to quickly restore their operational capacities after weeks of airspace closures and flight cancellations.
Saudi Arabia’s Readiness to Welcome Pilgrims
Saudi authorities have confirmed their full readiness to welcome pilgrims and ensure their safety, especially amid health concerns related to the global spread of viruses. The Nusuk (نسك) platform also provides significant facilitation for obtaining Hajj visas and arranging flights.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and every able Muslim must perform it at least once in their lifetime.
Source: France 24, Agence France-Presse
