Saturday May 2, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — The first Hajj pilgrim flights from Mogadishu and Hargeisa have arrived in Saudi Arabia, marking the start of this year’s pilgrimage journey for Somali nationals.
The flights landed at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport on Friday, carrying an initial group of 432 pilgrims, according to Somali authorities.
He said the government has addressed longstanding administrative challenges that previously complicated the Hajj process, noting that travel, accommodation, and documentation procedures are now running smoothly in line with official plans.
In a significant development, Deputy Health Minister Mohamed Hassan Bullale announced that the government has integrated comprehensive medical support into this year’s Hajj arrangements. A team of medical professionals is accompanying pilgrims to provide continuous health monitoring and immediate care during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities have also begun receiving pilgrims from multiple countries, including Somalia, the Philippines, Algeria, and Morocco, as part of the annual Hajj season.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, entry procedures at the Madinah airport were completed efficiently, supported by advanced systems and multilingual personnel deployed across all entry points.
Saudi Arabia organizes one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings, hosting millions of pilgrims each year for the Hajj. Last year, a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj. Of the total, 1,506,576 came from abroad and 166,654 from inside the Kingdom, according to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The arrival of Somali pilgrims highlights improved coordination between government institutions, reflecting efforts to enhance service delivery and ensure the safety and well-being of citizens undertaking the pilgrimage.
