Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport has begun receiving the first international Hajj pilgrim flights, marking the official start of this year’s pilgrimage operations, with arrivals from the Philippines, Algeria, Somalia, and Morocco.
Arrival procedures were handled smoothly and efficiently by the General Directorate of Passports, ensuring a seamless entry experience without any disruptions, as part of a well-coordinated operational system.
Authorities reaffirmed their full readiness for the Hajj season, deploying advanced technologies and multilingual, specialized personnel across all air, land, and sea entry points to facilitate a safe and streamlined arrival process for pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia oversees one of the world’s largest annual logistical operations, managing the arrival of millions of pilgrims from across the globe over several weeks leading up to the main Hajj rituals.
According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, more than 1.67 million pilgrims performed Hajj last year, including over 1.5 million international pilgrims and approximately 166,000 domestic pilgrims.
Indonesia consistently leads in the number of pilgrims, followed by Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, reflecting the global significance of this major Islamic gathering.
