8% rise in Hajj pilgrims, says Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities say 117,00 more pilgrims flock to the kingdom to perform Hajj this year

ISLAMABAD: More than 1.6 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj which is an 8 per cent rise from last year's figure, according to the Saudi General Directorate of Passports.

117,000 more pilgrims flocked to the kingdom to perform this year Hajj.

Around 1.5 million pilgrims arrived via air which amounts to 93 per cent of the total number of faithfuls. While 88,346 pilgrims arrived by land, accounting for six per cent and 16,916 arrived by sea.

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In Makkah and other holy sites, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation, SWCC, aims to achieve a new record this year by supplying 1 million cubic metres of potable water per day during the Hajj season.

This is an increase of 10 per cent compared to 2018.

In Mina, an area of 8 square kilometres, has been allocated to some 45,000 tents, to accommodate 1.5 million pilgrims.

The area can host 118,000 people per hour and accommodate 70,000 pilgrims.

Some 141,800 pilgrims who arrived on 355 flights also benefited from the Makkah route initiative - a service launched by the kingdom that includes issuing visas, ensuring compliance with health requirements, and codifying and sorting luggage at airports in the pilgrims' own countries.