Calay News
The pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj, has officially begun with the participation of more than two million Muslim faithful, a figure similar to that before the COVID-19 pandemic and health restrictions. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam that every Muslim with sufficient resources must perform at least once in their lifetime.
Since the onset of the health crisis in 2020, Saudi authorities have limited the number of visitors, gradually increasing the quota of pilgrims to nearly one million by 2022. However, this year, Saudi Arabia lifted restrictions on the number and age of pilgrims, although the vaccination requirement still remains.
The Saudi minister in charge of the hach, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, celebrated that more than two million pilgrims from more than 160 countries are participating in the largest Muslim congregation in history. Before the pandemic, about 2.5 million Muslims performed the pilgrimage in 2019.
Tourism, including hach and omra, is an essential source of revenue for Saudi Arabia, accounting for around $12 billion annually. The country is seeking to diversify its economy and aims to welcome 30 million pilgrims by 2030.
The hach presents logistical challenges, from crowd management to sanitary control and the provision of accommodation for such a massive influx. Over the years, the government has developed infrastructure and mechanisms to facilitate the flow of pilgrims.
One such initiative is the “Mecca Route,” launched in 2019, which allows the faithful to be bussed directly from the airstrip to their hotels, avoiding additional formalities when alighting from the plane.
As for the safety and health of pilgrims, health centers and 32,000 ambulance workers have been deployed due to the high temperatures in the region. So far, there have been no serious incidents since 2015, although there have been tragedies and deadly stampedes in the past.
The pilgrimage includes circumambulations around the Kaaba and a visit to Mina and Mount Arafat in the coming days, where pilgrims will continue their religious devotion.
