Saudi Arabia welcomed pilgrims on 7,000 flights from 238 cities

Dubai: As the annual Hajj pilgrimage draws to a close, Saudi Arabia has revealed that more than 7,000 flights from 238 cities worldwide brought pilgrims to the Kingdom this year, in what is being described as one of the most integrated and technologically advanced Hajj operations to date.

Speaking at the annual reception for distinguished Hajj guests hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah emphasized the unprecedented levels of coordination and efficiency that marked the 2025 pilgrimage.

Dr. Al Rabiah announced the enhancement of the Nusuk app, which now provides more than 130 digital services to pilgrims from visa facilitation to guidance for every stage of the journey, including their safe return home.

The Minister also cited the expansion of shaded areas to more than 300,000 square meters, including 170,000 square meters along pilgrim routes and the planting of 23,000 trees to improve comfort and reduce heat exposure at key sites.

Saudi authorities boosted the electric grid’s capacity at the holy sites by 95 percent, a project costing over 3 billion riyals, and distributed more than 7 million cubic meters of water across Mecca and the pilgrimage sites.

Transportation saw similar upgrades: over 4,700 Haramain train journeys, 2,500 trips on the Mashaer Metro, and a fleet of more than 20,000 buses moved crowds efficiently between sacred locations.

Healthcare capacity also reached new heights, with a more than 60 percent increase in hospital beds, the opening of a new emergency hospital, and the deployment of 71 rapid-response medical points throughout the holy sites.

 -- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE