Over 1.5 million international pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, surpassing last year's numbers despite regional conflicts and travel disruptions.
Over 1.5 million pilgrims from outside the kingdom have reached Saudi Arabia to participate in this year’s Hajj, This influx comes amidst ongoing tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran against targets in Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf region.
The conflict led to widespread air traffic disruptions and a surge in travel costs. Major Gulf airlines in countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain had to quickly restore their operational capacities after weeks of airspace closures and flight cancellations. Despite these challenges, pilgrims have continued to arrive in large numbers, driven by the spiritual significance of the Hajj.
Saleh Al-Murabba, the commander of Saudi Arabia’s Haj Passport Forces, announced that 1,518,153 international pilgrims had arrived as of late Friday. He expects these figures to rise further over the next two days as more pilgrims continue to arrive ahead of the formal rituals that mark the beginning of the Hajj on Monday.
The successful arrival and continued flow of pilgrims highlight the resilience of the global Muslim community in overcoming significant logistical hurdles posed by regional conflicts. The Saudi authorities have been working diligently to ensure smooth operations, despite the disruptions caused by the ongoing tensions in the region.
