Hajj 2023: More Than 1M Pilgrims Arrive in Saudi Arabia

More than one million pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj pilgrimage in 2023, the first year after the pandemic that the major event is being held without any restrictions.

Saudi authorities announced that more than 1.1 million people from across the world have arrived in the country. “Around 1,150,000 pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj,” Mohammed al-Bijawi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, told the state-run Al-Ekhbariya TV channel on Saturday.

“The influx of pilgrims continues to increase amid continuous preparations,” he added.  

According to earlier announcement, more than two million pilgrims are expected to perform Hajj this year.

Meanwhile, another report on Saturday noted that a total 718,030 pilgrims of different nationalities reached Medina. The Hajj and Visit committee said in a statistics report that the total of arrivals for Saturday reached 29,090 pilgrims, of whom 25,962 arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina, Arab News reported.

The statistics report published on Saturday showed also that 556,953 pilgrims departed to Makkah on Saturday, while the number of pilgrims staying in Madinah until yesterday reached 161,021 pilgrims. Adding that the occupancy rate of housing in Madinah was 54 percent, and that 32,631 pilgrims benefited from the medical services provided to them.

Authorities in Madinah were working around the clock to keep pace with pilgrims arriving through air and land ports to ensure the best experience for visitors performing the Hajj rituals this year.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has called on Muslims throughout Saudi Arabia to be on the lookout for the crescent moon at sunset on the 29th day of Dul Qaada, which falls on June 18. The crescent moon will signal the start of the month of Dul Hijjah. The court urged anyone who sights it to report to the nearest court.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Saudi Arabia has reduced the number of Hajj pilgrims in the past three years.

According to official data, more than 899,999 Muslims came to Saudi Arabia in 2022 to perform the Hajj ritual. In 2021, only up to 60,000 pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia were allowed to do so amid COVID-19 measures, while in 2020, the number was just 10,000.

Muslims are required to perform it at least once in their life if they have the means to do so. 

Source: Agencies