More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of this year’s Hajj despite ongoing tensions and travel disruptions in the Middle East.
Saudi authorities confirmed that over 1.5 million pilgrims from outside the kingdom have entered Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
Saleh Al-Murabba, commander of Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Passport Forces, said international arrivals had reached 1,518,153 by Friday night. Officials expect the number to rise further as more pilgrims arrive before the Hajj rituals officially begin on Monday.
This year’s pilgrimage comes amid regional instability following the conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. The tensions caused airspace closures, flight cancellations, and rising travel costs across the Gulf region.
Despite the disruptions, major Gulf airlines gradually restored operations, allowing pilgrims to continue travelling to the holy sites in Mecca.
Last year, total Hajj attendance reached more than 1.67 million pilgrims, including over 1.5 million visitors from outside Saudi Arabia.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is required at least once in a lifetime for Muslims who are physically and financially able to perform it.
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