Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
More than 1.5 million pilgrims from across the world have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, highlighting the determination of worshippers to undertake one of Islam’s holiest journeys despite months of regional instability and travel disruption across the Middle East.
Saudi authorities confirmed that 1,518,153 pilgrims from outside the kingdom had entered the country ahead of the formal start of Hajj rituals on Monday — already surpassing last year’s international arrival figures.
The strong turnout comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf following the conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. The escalation prompted Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes targeting sites in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, leading to temporary airspace closures, widespread flight disruptions and a sharp rise in travel costs across the region.
Yet the flow of pilgrims has continued largely uninterrupted.
Faith Amid Uncertainty
For millions of Muslims, Hajj represents a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual obligation, and many pilgrims pressed ahead with their travel plans despite concerns over security and logistics.
Airlines across the Gulf — particularly in the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain — scrambled to restore flight operations after weeks of cancellations and rerouting caused by the regional conflict. Aviation networks gradually resumed normal capacity, helping ease the movement of pilgrims into Saudi Arabia in the crucial days leading up to Hajj.
Saudi officials say arrivals are expected to rise further as more pilgrims land in the kingdom over the weekend.
“The total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153,” Saleh Al-Murabba, commander of Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Passport Forces, said during a press conference late Friday.
The figure already exceeds the number of foreign pilgrims recorded during last year’s Hajj, when 1,506,576 international worshippers travelled to Saudi Arabia. The total Hajj attendance in 2024 stood at 1,673,320 pilgrims.
Massive Preparations Underway
Saudi Arabia has mobilised extensive security, transportation and healthcare infrastructure to manage one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.
Authorities have intensified crowd-management measures, upgraded digital monitoring systems and expanded emergency medical services amid expectations of another high-volume pilgrimage season.
The kingdom has also continued efforts to modernise the Hajj experience under its broader Vision 2030 reforms, focusing on improving transport connectivity, pilgrim services and logistical coordination.
The annual pilgrimage, which draws Muslims from nearly every corner of the globe, remains not only a major religious event but also a powerful symbol of unity and resilience in times of geopolitical uncertainty.
