Hajj 2025 arrivals cross 220,000 in Saudi Arabia as pilgrims travel from Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh
Indonesians lead arrivals as more faithful congregate for annual pilgrimage
Cairo: More than 220,000 pilgrims of various nationalities have arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, set to begin early next month, according to Saudi newspaper Okaz.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, accounts for the largest group with over 50,000 pilgrims so far. They are followed by arrivals from Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Saudi authorities expect a total of 221,000 Indonesian pilgrims to participate in Hajj this year.
"All air, land and sea ports in the kingdom have been fully prepared in line with earlier charted plans to receive the pilgrims and facilitate their arrival and entry procedures," the sources said.
Medina first: The spiritual start
Most pilgrims have landed at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina, where many begin their pilgrimage by praying at the Prophet’s Mosque — Islam’s second holiest site — before continuing to Mecca.
The Mecca Route Initiative
Pilgrims from Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh benefit from Saudi Arabia’s "Mecca Route" initiative — a fast-track system that finalizes travel and health procedures in the pilgrim’s home country. The program includes:
Biometric data collection and electronic visa issuance
Health clearance and passport procedures before departure
Luggage tagging and direct transport from the airport to residences in Mecca or Medina
Last year, around 1.8 million Muslims from both inside and outside Saudi Arabia performed the Hajj.
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