Saudi Arabia has embarked on early preparations for the new Hajj season to receive over 2 million Muslim pilgrims expected to arrive later this month.
After the unprecedented success of Umrah season in 2023 with a record-breaking number of Umrah pilgrims, totaling an astounding 30 million Muslims from inside and outside the Kingdom.
Anticipating record-breaking numbers of pilgrims, the Saudi government and private sector agencies are collaborating in the operational plans to ensure the comfort and satisfaction of the pilgrims in and around Mecca.
During Ramadan, over 33 million Muslims performed prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque and approximately 9 million passengers arrived at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah unveiled that it has hired 3,500 staffers this year, assigned to take care of the pilgrims who arrive in and depart from Medina.
The previous season marked a return back to pre-pandemic levels in terms of numbers with 1.8 million pilgrims from around the world.
The Kingdom has pursed various mechanisms to facilitate Hajj and attract growing numbers of pilgrims every year.
In April 2024, Saudi Airlines announced that it is gearing up to launch a fleet of flying taxis to facilitate transportation for pilgrims during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. According to the Saudi Press Agency, these cutting-edge Lilium aircraft, known as eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing), will transport pilgrims from King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah to hotels in Makkah.
Approximately 100 of these eVTOL aircraft will be deployed, revolutionizing travel for pilgrims in the upcoming season.
Earlier last week, the Ministry announced the launch of the Nusuk pilgrim card, a new initiative designed to secure the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage process. The card will be available in both digital and physical formats.
It is basically designed to simplify the operational procedures of the Hajj, decrease illegal pilgrimage practices, and ensure the security of the holy sites by verifying the identities of pilgrims and preventing unauthorized access. Foreign pilgrims will get Nusuk card from their respective Hajj offices after obtaining pilgrimage visa, while domestic pilgrims can get it from designated service providers after obtaining Hajj permit.
These early plans reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to providing a seamless and spiritually enriching experience for worldwide visitors.
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