More than 718,000 pilgrims arrive in Madina for Hajj

A total of 718,030 pilgrims of different nationalities reached Madinah so far arriving through air and land ports to perform Hajj this year.

The statistics of the Hajj and Visit Committee, which monitors the arrival and departure of pilgrims in Madinah, indicated that the total arrivals for Saturday amounted to 29,090 pilgrims, of whom 25,962 arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah through 105 flights. 

The Immigration Center received 65 flights carrying 2,099 pilgrims and the Land pilgrims center received 22 flights carrying 924 pilgrims.

Also, the statistics showed that the number of pilgrims departing on Saturday on their way to the holy sites in Makkah amounted to 556,953 pilgrims, while the number of pilgrims staying in Madinah until yesterday reached 161,021 pilgrims, and the occupancy rate of housing in Madinah was 54 percent, while 32,631 pilgrims benefited from the medical services provided to them.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has said there will be no limits on the number of pilgrims from around the world for the upcoming Hajj season, reversing earlier restrictions prompted by the global pandemic.

In the past two years, Saudi Arabia curtailed the number of Muslims allowed to perform Hajj to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Around 2.5 million Muslims used to attend Hajj annually in pre-pandemic times.

Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced that June 19, is the first day of Dhu Al-Hijjah and Eid-ul Azha will fall on June 28.

"Arafat Day falls on June 27, and June 28 will be the first day of Eid-ul-Azha,"  according to a Saudi Supreme Court statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Pilgrims will flock at the beginning of Monday, June 26, to Mina holy site to spend the day of Tarwiyah (water provision) in pursuit of the Prophetic Sunnah, in preparation to stand in the Arafat holy site, on Tuesday, June 27, which marks the climax of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj. 

Hajj, one of Islam‍‍`s five pillars, is the pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia that every Muslim must perform at least once in their lifetime if they are able.