1,129,992 Pilgrims Arrive in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, 03 Dzulhijjah 1437/05 September 2016 (MINA) – The number of pilgrims coming from abroad to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the start of pilgrims’ arrival until the end of Saturday, reached 1,129,992 pilgrims, according to statistics issued by the Saudi General Directorate of Passports.

It added that the number of pilgrims coming by air reached 1,061,165 pilgrims; and 56,184 pilgrims by land; and 12,643 pilgrims by sea.

This year’s Hajj season will see over two million Muslims converge in Makkah and its surrounding areas to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

Around 700,000 of those will comprise of local pilgrims and 1.3million will be from other countries around the world.

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“The number of pilgrims this year will be equivalent to last year and not more, because of the ongoing expansion works at the holy sites. The quota for pilgrims from outside the Kingdom will continue less by 20 percent and by 50 percent for domestic pilgrims,” a spokesman said.

Khaled Al-Harbi, director of Haj and Umrah affairs at the Jeddah airport, said 14 lounges have been allocated for receiving pilgrims from outside the Kingdom to perform Haj.

“In addition to 10 jet bridges, 42 counters have been opened for handling passport procedures and 120 checkpoints set up to ensure smooth procedures for the guests of God,” he added. (T/R07/R01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)