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Over 1.5 million pilgrims arrive for Hajj, surpassing previous year despite Middle East conflict

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, surpassing last year's international visitor numbers.
  • The increase occurred despite recent Middle East conflict and resulting flight disruptions and increased travel costs.
  • Hajj is a mandatory pilgrimage for Muslims, and figures are expected to rise as more pilgrims arrive.

Saudi Arabia has welcomed over 1.5 million pilgrims from abroad for the upcoming Hajj, a figure that has already surpassed last year's international arrivals. This surge in numbers comes despite significant disruptions caused by recent conflict in the Middle East.

In late February, strikes on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf by Iran, in response to US and Israeli actions, led to widespread air traffic disruptions and a sharp increase in travel costs. Major airlines in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain worked to restore services after weeks of flight cancellations and airspace closures.

Despite these challenges, pilgrims have continued their journey to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, one of Islam's five pillars. Saleh Al-Murabba, commander of the Hajj Passport Forces, announced Friday that 1,518,153 pilgrims had arrived from outside the kingdom. He anticipates further increases in the coming days as the formal rituals begin on Monday.

Last year, the Hajj saw a total of 1,673,320 pilgrims, with 1,506,576 coming from outside Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage is a mandatory religious duty for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake it at least once in their lifetime.

The total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153.

— Saleh Al-MurabbaSaleh Al-Murabba, the commander of Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Passport Forces, announced the number of arriving pilgrims at a press conference.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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