Hajj flights to begin on April 29: Khalid

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain has announced that Hajj flights will begin on April 29. He said visa processing for pilgrims will be completed within a few days.

He shared this information at a press briefing held at the Secretariat on Tuesday (April 8).

The adviser said, “We have already completed all necessary formalities for 5,200 pilgrims registered under the government quota. This includes the allocation of tents in Mina and Arafat, agreements with catering service companies, accommodation arrangements with house/hotel authorities, and contracts with transportation companies. The visa process is now underway, and we hope it will be completed very soon, InshaAllah. Our pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia according to the scheduled flights starting from April 29.”

He further stated that this year, a large number of pilgrims—81,900—have registered through private Hajj agencies. Due to the Saudi government’s requirement for a minimum number of pilgrims per agency, these pilgrims—registered under 753 agencies—will perform Hajj under the coordination of 70 lead agencies.

He also mentioned that, due to direct supervision, strict monitoring, and follow-up activities by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, two major tasks—allocation of tents in Mina and Arafat, and agreements with catering service companies—were completed by the February 14 deadline set by the Saudi government for privately registered pilgrims.

Later, the Saudi government extended the deadline for agreements regarding accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, as well as transportation services, until March 25, and issued a strict warning in this regard, the adviser added.