576,742 Pilgrims Arrive in Saudi Arabia to Perform Hajj Rituals

Riyadh, 23 Dzulqa’dah 1437/26 August 2016 (MINA) – The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has said in a statement that the number of pilgrims coming from abroad to perform Hajj rituals reached 576,742 Wednesday.

The number of pilgrims arriving by air reached 564,019; by land 5,790; and by sea 6,933, SPA reported.

Hajj numbers peaked in 2012, when more than 3.1 million pilgrims took part in the rituals. Following the surge, officials placed limits on the number of pilgrims permitted.

Beginning from 2014, the Kingdom has been imposing reduction the ratio of the international pilgrims by 20% and the domestic pilgrims by 50% due to the projects implemented in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and at the Sacred Sites.

Also Read: Israel Bars Indonesian FM from Entering Occupied West Bank

This is to ensure that the pilgrims perform their rituals with the utmost ease, according to the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Under the arrangement, the number of Indonesian pilgrims this year will be 168 000 pilgrims, which is the same as the number of pilgrims in the previous year after abiding by the set percentage.

The number of the Pakistani pilgrims this year is 143,368, the same as the number of pilgrims in the previous year, after abiding by the set percentage. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)