HAIL: A convoy of Iraqi pilgrims arrived Friday at the Hail Pilgrim City, a key transit hub in northern Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom accelerates preparations for the 2026 Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The integrated facility offers a full range of services, including round-the-clock healthcare, rest areas, and logistical support, to assist pilgrims traveling overland from the Kingdom’s northern borders toward Makkah and Madinah.
Volunteer teams and multiple government agencies are deployed on-site to facilitate smooth transit, manage crowd flow, and ensure compliance with health and travel protocols.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, governor of Hail, said the integration of services reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing pilgrim comfort and efficiency. Iraqi pilgrims expressed appreciation for the organized reception and streamlined procedures easing the demands of long-distance travel.
“Pilgrim cities” function as staging areas where pilgrims undergo medical screening, visa verification and orientation before entering the high-density pilgrimage zones in the Hejaz. (SPA photo)
Saudi Arabia has in recent years developed a network of “pilgrim cities” at major land and sea entry points. These large-scale, self-contained hubs function as staging areas where pilgrims undergo medical screening, visa verification, and orientation before entering the high-density pilgrimage zones in the Hejaz.
The Hail facility serves as a critical gateway for pilgrims arriving via historic land routes from Iraq and Jordan, forming a central component of the Kingdom’s northern logistics corridor.
Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, draws millions of Muslims annually to the holy sites. Saudi Arabia oversees one of the world’s largest recurring logistical operations to accommodate pilgrims arriving from dozens of countries over several weeks.
According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj last year, including 1,506,576 from abroad and 166,654 domestic pilgrims.
While Indonesia remains the largest source of pilgrims, followed by Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, land-based arrivals from neighboring countries such as Iraq continue to play a vital role in the Kingdom’s broader Hajj transport strategy.
“Pilgrim cities” function as staging areas where pilgrims undergo medical screening, visa verification and orientation before entering the high-density pilgrimage zones in the Hejaz. (SPA photo)
