More than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the kingdom ahead of this year’s hajj pilgrimage, according to Saudi authorities, surpassing last year’s international arrival figure despite the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The war triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February caused Tehran to launch multiple retaliatory attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf region. The escalation disrupted air travel, forced temporary airspace closures, and drove up transportation costs across the Middle East.
Major Gulf carriers in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain have since moved to restore flight operations after weeks of cancellations and restrictions.
Despite the regional instability, pilgrims have continued travelling to Saudi Arabia for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
“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.
Saudi officials expect the number to increase further over the next two days as more pilgrims continue to arrive before the official commencement of hajj rites on Monday.
Last year, Saudi Arabia recorded a total of 1,673,320 pilgrims during the hajj, including 1,506,576 visitors from outside the kingdom.
The hajj remains one of the five pillars of Islam and is compulsory at least once in a lifetime for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey.