Haj pilgrim numbers surpass 2025 arrivals despite Middle East war
Haj pilgrim numbers have exceeded 1.5 million this year, surpassing the arrivals in 2025 despite ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The war, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, has caused significant travel disruptions and increased costs. Nevertheless, pilgrims continue to arrive in Saudi Arabia for the haj, which officially begins on May 25.
- ▪Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the haj in 2026.
- ▪This number exceeds the total international visitors in 2025, which was 1,506,576.
- ▪The ongoing Middle East conflict has led to air traffic disruptions and increased travel costs.
- ▪Major Gulf airlines have worked to restore operational capacity after weeks of closures.
- ▪The haj is a significant religious obligation for Muslims, required at least once for those who can afford it.
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| Original publisher | Straits Times — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/haj-pilgrim-numbers-surpass-2025-arrivals-despite-middle-east-war |
| Publication time | Sat, 23 May 2026 17:26:00 +0800 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-23T09:32:26.258Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-23T09:32:26.258Z |
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Haj pilgrim numbers surpass 2025 arrivals despite Middle East warSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxMuslim worshippers gather to pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Mecca on May 22. PHOTO: AFPPublished May 23, 2026, 05:26 PMUpdated May 23, 2026, 05:26 PMMECCA, Saudi Arabia - Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the kingdom for the upcoming haj, according to a Saudi official, exceeding the number of international visitors in 2025 despite the war in the Middle East.The conflict triggered by the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February saw Tehran order waves of strikes on targets in Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf, prompting widespread air traffic disruptions and causing travel costs to surge.Major…
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