Saudi Arabia Secures 2026 Hajj, Deports Thousands, Pilgrims Exceed 1.5 Million Amid Regional Conflict

Saudi authorities announced that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived for the 2026 Hajj, surpassing the previous year’s total despite the ongoing war in the Middle East. Officials said the influx includes 1,518,153 foreign‑origin pilgrims, while security forces have intensified measures to protect the holy sites.

During a press briefing, the head of the Hajj security command, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al‑Bassami, reported that 217 illegal Hajj‑pilgrimage schemes were dismantled and 7,733 individuals who violated residency, labor or border rules were deported. An additional 366,000 unauthorized entrants were denied entry at the Mecca checkpoints and thousands of illegal vehicles were intercepted. Advanced technology and AI‑driven monitoring were employed to manage crowd flow and detect fraud.

The surge comes as the regional conflict, triggered by US‑Israel strikes on Iran, has disrupted air traffic and raised travel costs. The US embassy in Riyadh has advised American citizens to reconsider participation in the pilgrimage, while the State Department maintains diplomatic operations in Saudi Arabia with adjusted staffing.