JEDDAH, 7 February — The first batch of Sudanese pilgrims will arrive in the Kingdom tomorrow at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Sudanese Haj officials said.
Sudan said it would send 14,000 pilgrims for this year's Haj which reaches its peak this year in the first week of March. The figure is far below the quota allocated to Sudan. Under the Haj quota system, each country is allowed to send 1,000 pilgrims for every one million of its Muslim population.
The 142 pilgrims making up the first batch will be seen off at Khartoum airport by government ministers and officials at the Haj and Umrah Commission. Colorful farewell ceremonies staged by families and relatives of pilgrims departing for the holy land are a long-standing tradition in Sudan.
The first batch of Sudanese pilgrims traveling by sea will leave Port Sudan on Friday. (A.W.B.)
