More than 1,5 million Muslim pilgrims from abroad have already arrived in Saudi Arabia to participate in the Hajj, according to Saudi authorities. This figure already exceeds the level recorded at the same time last year, despite regional tensions and air travel disruptions related to the conflict in the Middle East.
The head of border police for the pilgrimage, Saleh al-Murabba, announced that more than 1,5 million pilgrims had arrived in Mecca ahead of the official start of the Hajj on Monday. Saudi authorities expect a further increase in arrivals in the coming days.
A pilgrimage organized in a tense regional context
This year's pilgrimage takes place in a particularly sensitive regional climate following recent tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. These clashes caused several weeks of air travel disruptions in the Gulf countries, with temporary airspace closures and numerous flight cancellations.
The region's major airlines have gradually restored their routes to ensure the transport of pilgrims. The Hajj, organized annually around the Kaaba and the Masjid al-Haram, is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be performed at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim who is able.
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