Saudi Arabia raises number of pilgrims to 1 mln for 2022 Hajj season

Logo of The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah decided to raise the number of pilgrims from inside and outside the Kingdom to one million this year, with the quota allocated to each country.

In a statement, the ministry added that the move comes as part of the Saudi government’s keenness to ensure the safety of pilgrims and allow the largest possible number of pilgrims to perform Hajj and Umrah, while preserving the health gains achieved by the Kingdom in overcoming coronavirus.  

The ministry added that that this year’s Hajj season is allowed to pilgrims under the age of 65years, who have received the main COVID-19 vaccine approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health.  

According to the statement, pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia are required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test result within 72 hours before departure. 

The ministry also urged the need for pilgrims to adhere to precautions and follow all health instructions while performing their Hajj rituals. 

The ministry earlier limited the Hajj seasons for the years 2019 and 2020 to 10,000 and 60,000 pilgrims, respectively, due to coronavirus. Meanwhile, the number of pilgrims in 2012 was the largest over the last years, as it exceeded 3 million, according to data compiled by Argaam.

The table below illustrates the development of the number of pilgrims over the last 15 years:

*Coronavirus