As of late April, more than 50,000 international pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2026, with flights landing daily from dozens of countries. The arrival phase, which began on April 18 and continues through May 21, is building steadily toward the estimated 1.8 million pilgrims expected by the time the Hajj rites begin around May 25.

Country-by-Country Arrivals

Pakistan leads the early arrival numbers, with 15,026 pilgrims landing in Madinah via 59 flights in just the first seven days of operations. An additional 2,200 pilgrims were expected on April 26 alone via eight more flights. Pakistan's total Hajj quota is 180,000 pilgrims, with flights operating from eight cities: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Quetta, and Sukkur.

Bangladesh has sent over 31,000 pilgrims from its total quota of 78,500, making it one of the fastest-moving operations relative to quota size.

India's first batch of 400 pilgrims departed Mumbai on April 18, with subsequent flights from 16 other embarkation points. India's total quota is 175,025, with five airlines (Air India Express, Akasa Air, Saudi Airlines, Flynas, and Flyadeal) operating the airlift through May 19.

Thailand has sent over 4,000 pilgrims across 13 flights - 12 from Hat Yai to Madinah and 1 from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Jeddah. Officials distributed Nusuk cards to arriving pilgrims and described operations as proceeding smoothly.

Indonesia, which holds the world's largest national quota at 221,000, officially launched its operation on April 21 with 391 pilgrims departing from Jakarta. The massive 548-flight airlift will continue in two phases, with the second wave beginning on May 7.

Malaysia's Amal by Malaysia Airlines launched its 110-flight operation on April 18 with flight MH8050 from Kuala Lumpur to Madinah, transporting 15,620 pilgrims across the season using A330-300 aircraft.

The Two-Phase Arrival Pattern

Most countries follow a two-phase arrival pattern. The first phase, running from mid-April through early May, sends pilgrims to Madinah, where they spend approximately one to two weeks visiting the Prophet's Mosque and preparing spiritually before travelling to Makkah. The second phase, starting around May 4-7, sends pilgrims directly to Jeddah for onward travel to Makkah.

The staggered arrival reduces congestion at both airports and in the holy cities themselves. Pilgrims arriving in the first phase have the advantage of a more relaxed schedule and less crowded conditions at the Prophet's Mosque, including better availability for Rawdah visit bookings through the Nusuk app.

The Makkah Route Initiative

Several countries - including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Malaysia - are participating in the Makkah Route initiative, which allows pilgrims to complete Saudi immigration, health screening, and baggage procedures at their departure airports. Upon landing in Saudi Arabia, these pilgrims bypass passport control and baggage claim entirely and proceed directly to waiting buses.

Pakistan's Makkah Route operation, expanded to three cities (Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi) for 2026, is serving over 95,000 pilgrims - the largest cohort under the initiative.

Transport Scale

The numbers behind the global Hajj airlift are staggering. Saudi Arabia has allocated over 3.1 million seats across more than 12,000 scheduled and charter flights from 145 destinations in over 180 countries. National carrier Saudia alone has deployed 160 aircraft with over one million seats. Budget carrier flyadeal will transport 85,000 pilgrims from 28 cities across 12 countries.

Beyond air transport, the Haramain high-speed train is expected to carry tens of thousands of pilgrims between Makkah and Madinah, while the Saudia-Saudi Railways air-rail integration allows some pilgrims to book combined tickets for a seamless journey.

What Arriving Pilgrims Should Do

Pilgrims arriving now should ensure their Nusuk app is downloaded and their Nusuk card is ready. Those arriving in Madinah should book their Rawdah visit immediately through the app, as slots fill up quickly during peak season. All pilgrims should carry their meningitis vaccination certificate and keep their passport and hotel details accessible at all times.

With the Day of Arafah expected on May 26, pilgrims arriving in the current wave have approximately four weeks to acclimatise to the heat, deepen their spiritual preparation, and familiarise themselves with the holy sites before the most intense days of their lives begin.