MOGADISHU — The first groups of Somali pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, with flights departing from Mogadishu and Hargeisa marking the official start of this year’s journey for thousands of worshippers.
According to Somali authorities, an initial group of 432 pilgrims landed on Friday at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the holy city of Madinah, one of the main entry points for international pilgrims.
Officials said the arrival process was completed smoothly, with Saudi authorities deploying advanced screening systems and multilingual staff to facilitate entry procedures for pilgrims from around the world.
In a notable development this year, Somalia’s Deputy Health Minister Mohamed Hassan Bullale announced the introduction of enhanced medical support for Somali pilgrims. A dedicated team of healthcare professionals is accompanying the group, providing continuous monitoring, emergency response services, and medical consultations throughout their stay.
“This initiative aims to safeguard the health and well-being of our pilgrims during the Hajj period,” Bullale said, highlighting lessons learned from previous years, when access to timely medical care was sometimes limited.
Saudi authorities have also begun receiving pilgrims from multiple countries, including the Philippines, Algeria, and Morocco, as part of the large-scale operation that accompanies the annual pilgrimage.
Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Hajj is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, drawing millions of Muslims each year to the holy cities of Mecca and Madinah.
According to official Saudi data, a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj last year, including 1,506,576 international visitors and 166,654 domestic pilgrims.
Somali officials say this year’s arrangements reflect improved coordination between government institutions and Saudi authorities, aimed at enhancing logistics, safety, and service delivery for citizens undertaking the pilgrimage.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able to perform it.
Further flights carrying Somali pilgrims are expected in the coming days as the pilgrimage season gathers pace.
