1.3 million foreign pilgrims arrive by Monday

JEDDAH, 28 February — Close to 1.3 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom. The Passports Department said a total of 1,273,825 pilgrims had entered the country by Monday night and more arrivals were due until this evening.

An estimated two million faithful from around the world are expected to perform Haj this year. A total of 1.73 million people, including 1.27 million foreigners, made the pilgrimage in 2000. The pilgrimage begins in earnest Saturday with an all-night stay in the Mina valley near Makkah, and the next day the pilgrims will pray in Arafat, 12 kilometers away. (SPA)