Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced the results of its electronic lottery for the 1448 AH tourist Hajj season, corresponding to 2027. According to Egyptian daily Masrawy, the results were released on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, opening a tight timeline for successful applicants to confirm their places and begin payment.
How Applicants Can Check Their Status
Citizens can find out whether they were selected by entering their national identification number through the unified Egyptian Hajj portal and the services gateway for Egyptian tourism companies. According to Masrawy, inquiries are handled through the official platform at hij.moi.gov.eg.
The ministry has set a strict deadline for those who win a place. Selected pilgrims must contact their travel companies and complete payment within 15 days of the results being announced. Applicants who miss that window risk losing their allocated seat, so officials have urged winners to act promptly rather than waiting.
Record Demand for Tourist Hajj Places
Interest in Egypt's tourist Hajj program rose sharply this season. According to Masrawy, 145,530 citizens applied for the 2027 season, a 27 percent increase on the 114,604 applicants recorded in the previous season. The surge underscores the strong and growing demand for organised Hajj travel among Egyptians, and the role the lottery plays in distributing a limited number of places fairly.
The available places are divided across several travel and accommodation categories. Masrawy reported the allocation as 18,000 visas for the economic flight category, which is the largest single share, alongside 3,000 visas for the land route. Accommodation-based categories include 4,300 visas for tourist camps A and B, 3,500 visas for tourist camps C, and 2,000 visas for tourist towers.
How the Tourist Hajj Lottery Works
Egypt manages its Hajj allocation through several tracks, and the tourist Hajj program run by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is one of the main routes for citizens travelling through licensed travel companies. Because demand far outstrips the number of places Saudi Arabia grants each year, seats are distributed through an electronic draw rather than on a first-come basis, a system intended to make the process transparent and to curb favouritism.
The sharp rise in applications this year, from 114,604 to 145,530, highlights why the lottery remains central. With well over a hundred thousand hopefuls competing for a far smaller pool of visas spread across flight, land and accommodation categories, the draw determines not only who travels but on which type of package. Applicants who are not selected typically wait for a future season or explore other authorised channels.
Key Dates on the Road to Hajj 2027
The lottery result marks the start of a structured schedule leading into the pilgrimage. According to Masrawy, company consortium registration runs from October 1 to 8, 2026. Contract procedures are due to begin on November 25, 2026, and the final deadline for completing housing contracts has been set for January 8, 2027.
The phased calendar is designed to give winning pilgrims, travel companies and accommodation providers a clear sequence of steps, reducing last-minute pressure as the season approaches. It also reflects the Egyptian authorities' effort to formalise the tourist Hajj process and hold travel companies to defined commitments on housing and services. For pilgrims, each stage is a checkpoint: confirming the win, paying on time, and ensuring a signed housing contract is in place well before travel.
Practical Tips for Winning Applicants
Egyptians who have been selected should verify their result immediately using their national ID on the official portal rather than relying on unofficial channels. Because payment must be completed within 15 days, winners should contact their authorised travel company as soon as their selection is confirmed and keep proof of every payment. Applicants are advised to deal only with licensed companies and to confirm exactly which category, flight type and accommodation their package covers before paying. Keeping copies of contracts and receipts will help protect pilgrims' rights if any dispute over housing or services arises later in the season.