On Friday, Hajj Passport Forces commander Saleh Al-Murabba announced that 1,518,153 pilgrims have arrived from abroad for the annual Hajj, exceeding 2025 figures despite the regional conflict in Saudi Arabia.
Ground News reports that the regional conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February caused widespread airspace closures and flight cancellations, disrupting travel costs across the Middle East.
Major Gulf airlines in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain have worked to quickly restore operational capacity, enabling the continued flow of worshippers toward the Grand mosque in Mecca.
Pilgrims continue to arrive ahead of formal rituals marking the beginning of the Hajj on Monday, with officials expecting the total number to rise further over the next two days.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, remains a mandatory obligation for Muslims with the means, drawing millions to the Kaaba despite the recent regional volatility.
