2026 Hajj Pilgrims Increase from Last Year Despite Ongoing War

The number of Hajj pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia has reached over 1.5 million people, surpassing the 2025 figures. This increase is considered extraordinary as it takes place amidst the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran. “The total number of Hajj pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153 people,” stated Saleh AlMurabba, commander of the Saudi Hajj Passport Forces, as reported by AFP on Saturday (23/05/2026). Many airlines have been affected by the war; for instance, airlines in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain temporarily closed their airspace. However, airlines have worked swiftly to restore their operational capacity to ensure pilgrims can fly safely. Authorities estimate that these numbers will continue to rise, particularly over the next two days. In 2025, the total number of Hajj pilgrims reached 1.67 million (1,673,320), which included both local and international pilgrims. Specifically, for pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia, the number was 1.5 million (1,506,576). This year, the number of foreign pilgrims has already reached 1.51 million (1,518,153), meaning that arrivals from abroad are officially higher. Given that the arrival process for foreign pilgrims has not yet fully concluded, this indicates a much greater enthusiasm among pilgrims compared to last year. The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, which must be performed by Muslims worldwide at least once in a lifetime.