Hajj pilgrim numbers exceed 2025 levels despite Middle East conflict

More than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the kingdom for the upcoming hajj, a Saudi official said, surpassing the number of international visitors who attended last year even as conflict rages in the Middle East.

The escalation that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February prompted Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf. The resulting airspace closures and flight cancellations pushed travel costs higher.

Gulf carriers based in the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain have worked to restore most of their schedules after weeks of disruptions.

Despite these challenges, pilgrims continue to travel to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj.

“The total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153,” Saleh Al‑Murabba, commander of Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Passport Forces, said at a press conference late Friday.

Those figures are expected to climb further over the next two days as more pilgrims arrive ahead of the formal rituals that begin the hajj on Monday.

In 2025, the total number of pilgrims reached 1,673,320, including 1,506,576 from outside Saudi Arabia.

The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims who are physically and financially able.

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