• Pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in JEddah, prior to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca. The Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in the lifetime of every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. AFP
    Pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in JEddah, prior to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca. The Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in the lifetime of every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. AFP
  • Early arrivals at Jeddah. AFP
    Early arrivals at Jeddah. AFP
  • Pilgrims go through passport control. AFP
    Pilgrims go through passport control. AFP
  • Pilgrims require a special Hajj visa to enter Saudi Arabia. AFP
    Pilgrims require a special Hajj visa to enter Saudi Arabia. AFP
  • Pilgrims go through passport control. AFP
    Pilgrims go through passport control. AFP
  • Last year about 1,535 flights carried pilgrims to Saudi airports. AFP
    Last year about 1,535 flights carried pilgrims to Saudi airports. AFP
  • Makkah becomes one of the most densely populated areas in the world during Hajj, with an estimated two million people moving in unison to perform the rituals.
    Makkah becomes one of the most densely populated areas in the world during Hajj, with an estimated two million people moving in unison to perform the rituals.
  • Early arrivals from Bangladesh. AFP
    Early arrivals from Bangladesh. AFP
  • A Kashmiri Muslim pilgrim hugs her relative before leaving for the Hajj pilgrimage in Srinagar, EPA
    A Kashmiri Muslim pilgrim hugs her relative before leaving for the Hajj pilgrimage in Srinagar, EPA
  • A Kashmiri man hugs his relative before beginning his Hajj pilgrimage. EPA
    A Kashmiri man hugs his relative before beginning his Hajj pilgrimage. EPA
  • Kashmiri Muslim pilgrims leave for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. EPA
    Kashmiri Muslim pilgrims leave for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. EPA
  • Relatives see off pilgrims heading to Makkah in Srinagar. EPA
    Relatives see off pilgrims heading to Makkah in Srinagar. EPA
  • Relatives see off pilgrims heading to Makkah in Srinagar. EPA
    Relatives see off pilgrims heading to Makkah in Srinagar. EPA
  • Thai Muslims board a special flight to Makkah from Narathiwat provincial airport in southern Thailand. AFP
    Thai Muslims board a special flight to Makkah from Narathiwat provincial airport in southern Thailand. AFP
  • Thai Muslims board a special flight to Makkah from Narathiwat provincial airport in southern Thailand. AFP
    Thai Muslims board a special flight to Makkah from Narathiwat provincial airport in southern Thailand. AFP
  • Relatives send off Thai Muslims heading to Makkah to perform Hajj. AFP
    Relatives send off Thai Muslims heading to Makkah to perform Hajj. AFP

Hajj 2019: pilgrims arrive early in Saudi Arabia - in pictures

The process of moving millions of Muslim pilgrims for Hajj begins with arrivals from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India

The National

August 01, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

This year's Hajj season does not begin until early August, but the logistics of moving hundreds of thousands of pilgrims started at the weekend with specially chartered flights into Saudi Arabia.

The first pilgrims arrived from Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Makkah becomes one of the most densely populated areas in the world during Hajj, with an estimated two million people moving in unison to perform the rituals.

Last year, about 1,535 flights carried pilgrims to Saudi airports, with more arriving over land and sea.

See the gallery above for the early arrivals for Hajj 2019. Below, The National explains Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

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