Saudi-Arabia Welcomes Over One-Million Foreign Pilgrims For 2024-Hajj Season 

Saudi-Arabia Welcomes Over One-Million Foreign Pilgrims For 2024-Hajj Season 

Saudi Arabian authorities have announced that almost one million foreign pilgrims have arrived for the 2024 Hajj season. According to a report by the Saudi Gazette, by the end of Sunday, a total of 935,966 pilgrims had arrived through all of the kingdom’s air, land, and seaports.

The annual pilgrimage in Makkah is expected to host over two million attendees, with 65,000 Nigerians among those slated to participate. The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has already disclosed that it has airlifted 40,696 Nigerian pilgrims in a total of 96 flights.

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) revealed that the majority of pilgrims arrived by air, totaling 896,287, while 37,280 arrived via land entry points, and 2,399 through seaports. The directorate emphasized its commitment to facilitating entry procedures through online platforms and the utilization of advanced technical devices operated by qualified Saudis proficient in various languages spoken by pilgrims.

In a notable development, Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, inaugurated the Nusuk Wallet, the world’s first international digital wallet designed to serve Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Developed in collaboration with the Saudi National Bank (SNB AlAhli), the digital wallet aims to enable pilgrims to manage their finances conveniently during their stay in the holy cities.

The Nusuk Wallet employs cutting-edge technologies and encryption techniques to ensure the highest standards of security for users’ financial transactions. Ahmed Al-Maiman, the Director of Digital Experience at the ministry, highlighted the achievement of several milestones at both local and international levels with the launch of the digital wallet.

This innovative initiative marks a significant step towards the development of a comprehensive super-app catering to the needs of pilgrims, bringing them closer to achieving their goal of a successful pilgrimage experience.