Saudi minister: We received over 1.2m pilgrims for 2024 hajj

Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the Saudi minister of hajj and umrah, says approximately 1.2 million pilgrims have arrived in the country. 

Speaking at a press conference in Riyadh, on Saturday, Al-Rabiah said the pilgrims are in excellent health and that their journey went smoothly.

The minister reminded the pilgrims to adhere to all regulations and instructions.

He commended the launch of “No Hajj without a Permit”, an international campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of violating Hajj regulations, fake campaigns, and electronic fraud practices.

He said the campaign, led by the ministry of interior and the emirate of the Mecca region, spans more than 20 countries globally.

Al-Rabiah explained that the aim of the campaign is to raise awareness and enforce the regulations that guide hajj, ensuring that all pilgrims can complete their rituals comfortably.

“We have taken measures to select companies specialized in hospitality with distinguished expertise and strong financial capabilities,” Al-Rabiah said.

“Previously, pilgrims from Europe, America, and countries without organized Hajj delegations faced issues with services arranged through tourism offices in these countries, affecting their experiences, the prices, and the services provided. Additionally, some pilgrims became victims of fraudulent practices.

“Since 1443 AH, we have organized applications for pilgrims from these regions, initially covering Europe and America, wherein applications are submitted electronically, directly without resorting to middlemen or tourism offices to ensure that pilgrims receive the agreed upon services. Last year, we expanded further, going from covering 67 countries to 126 countries.”

To enhance the efficiency of workers within the hajj system, Al-Rabiah said 120,000 workers and leaders of pilgrim groups have undergone training.

He added that over 2,500 training workshops have been conducted in multiple languages within the kingdom and 10 more internationally.

He gave assurances that Saudi Arabia has mobilised all resources to ensure the success of 2024 hajj.