According to Saudi Arabia, over 1.6 million Muslim pilgrims have arrived in the kingdom so far for this year’s Hajj trip.
According to the General Directorate of Passports, 1,626,500 pilgrims have arrived in the country via air, land, and sea ports.
It went on to say that among the visitors were 1,559,053 overseas pilgrims.
Pilgrims from all around the world continue to arrive in large numbers. This year, the oil-rich country hopes to attract over two million Muslim pilgrims for Hajj.
Saudi Arabia has reduced the number of Hajj pilgrims in the last three years owing to COVID-19 outbreak restrictions.
According to official figures, around 899,999 Muslim pilgrims visited Saudi Arabia in 2022 to conduct the Hajj pilgrimage.
Despite COVID-19 limits, the monarchy accepted up to 60,000 pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia in 2021, compared to only 10,000 in 2020.
The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest shrine, the Kaaba in Mecca, is one of Islam’s five pillars. If they have the means, Muslims are expected to execute it at least once throughout their lives.