Nearly 2 million pilgrims to perform Hajj

The annual Hajj pilgrimage season began this week as thousands of pilgrims travel to Makkah from inside and outside the Kingdom.

This year 1.93 million pilgrims have registered to perform the pilgrimage, up by 4 percent year-on-year (YoY).

King Salman has approved increasing the number of pilgrims this year. The approval comes after the completion of a large part of the expansion works at the holy sites.

The Kingdom had previously decided to decrease the number of pilgrims by 20 percent for pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia and 50 percent for local pilgrims.

Last Hajj season saw a total number of 1.86 million pilgrims, down 5 percent compared with the previous season.

A total of 537,000 pilgrims, or 29 percent of the total number of pilgrims last year, came for Hajj from inside the Kingdom, while 1.33 million pilgrims, accounting for 71 percent, came from other countries.

The number of employees serving pilgrims at the holy sites this year exceeds 51,000 female and male employees, representing 22 government authorities.

Transportation services are provided by 35,900 employees, while health and medical care workers number 30,900.