JEDDAH, 21 December — The first batch of pilgrims for the upcoming Haj will arrive at Madinah’s Prince Muhammad International Airport next week from South Africa.
The South African pilgrims, who will pray at the Prophet’s Mosque before proceeding to Makkah to complete the Haj rituals in the third week of February, will be received at the airport by senior officials from the Ministry of Haj as well as South African diplomats, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Hassan Al-Bakri, director general of Haj Affairs in Madinah, said his department has completed all preparations for receiving foreign pilgrims.
The number of pilgrims this year is expected to reach more than two million — 1.5 million from abroad and the rest from within the country.
The Passports Department has announced that it will start issuing Haj permits for expatriates from Dec. 30.
Foreigners living in the Kingdom, currently estimated at six million, are allowed to perform Haj only once every five years.
