• A pilgrim bids farewell at Dubai International Airport. EPA
    A pilgrim bids farewell at Dubai International Airport. EPA
  • Pilgrims enter Dubai International Airport as they make their way to an aircraft which will take them to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. EPA
    Pilgrims enter Dubai International Airport as they make their way to an aircraft which will take them to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. EPA
  • Saudi armed forces march during a parade in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
    Saudi armed forces march during a parade in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
  • Participants including Saudi women attend a hackathon in Jeddah, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca. Around 3,000 participants attended the three-day "Hackathon event" in Jeddah, the government said, with the aim of exploring high-tech solutions to make Hajj pilgrimage more efficient and safe. AFP
    Participants including Saudi women attend a hackathon in Jeddah, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca. Around 3,000 participants attended the three-day "Hackathon event" in Jeddah, the government said, with the aim of exploring high-tech solutions to make Hajj pilgrimage more efficient and safe. AFP
  • Participants attend a hackathon in Jeddah prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
    Participants attend a hackathon in Jeddah prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
  • An Iraqi pilgrim shows his passport and ticket to Mecca as he waits for his flight at the airport in Najaf, Iraq. AFP
    An Iraqi pilgrim shows his passport and ticket to Mecca as he waits for his flight at the airport in Najaf, Iraq. AFP
  • Palestinian pilgrims pray as they arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, ahead of their departure for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
    Palestinian pilgrims pray as they arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, ahead of their departure for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
  • Palestinian Muslim pilgrims arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
    Palestinian Muslim pilgrims arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
  • Relatives wait for the Hajj pilgrims to take off for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, at the airport in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters
    Relatives wait for the Hajj pilgrims to take off for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, at the airport in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters
  • Thai Muslim children and orphans are gathered to receive cash donations from local government officials and Muslim leaders to mark the first day of the holy month of Hajj pilgrimage in the southern province of Narathiwat. AFP
    Thai Muslim children and orphans are gathered to receive cash donations from local government officials and Muslim leaders to mark the first day of the holy month of Hajj pilgrimage in the southern province of Narathiwat. AFP

Hajj pilgrims depart for Makkah - in pictures

Saudi Arabia will host 2 million Muslims this week as they descend on Makkah to perform one of the five pillars of Islam

The National

August 14, 2018

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Hajj 2026Saudi Arabia