Directorate of Religious Affairs shifts Hajj fees to US dollars

The Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs has announced a shift in its pricing policy for the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage. Moving away from the practice of collecting fees in Saudi Arabian riyals used between 2016 and 2026, the institution will now require payments in US dollars.

Under the new tariff, the cost for an individual in a standard two-person room is set at 9,200 US dollars. Based on current exchange rates, this amounts to approximately 440,000 Turkish Lira per person. For couples traveling together, the total cost is estimated at 18,400 US dollars, or roughly 880,000 Turkish Lira. Premium or luxury packages involving closer proximity to holy sites may reach costs of up to 1.2 million Turkish Lira per person.

This decision marks a departure from previous efforts to promote the use of national currency. The collection of these fees has already begun, with funds reportedly being used for visa processing and organizational pre-payments.