Egyptian travel companies have begun moving pilgrims in groups from Madinah to Makkah in preparation for performing the Hajj rituals of the 1447 AH-2026 season, which saw strong demand from tourism pilgrims to visit Madinah as a first stage before Hajj. The number of pilgrims visiting Madinah is expected to reach around 23,000, representing more than 60% of this year's tourism pilgrims.
In this context, the tourism Hajj mission headed by Samia Samy, Assistant Minister for Company Affairs, decided to increase the members of its sub-mission in Madinah and support it with all the tools that enable it to serve pilgrims and follow up on their accommodation, most of which was in the northern area facing the Prophet's Mosque, and it was confirmed that all services were provided to pilgrims according to their contracts with the companies.
For their part, the Chamber of Tourism Companies' representatives in the mission coordinated with Al Rajhi Hajj Services company, which is responsible for hosting tourism pilgrims, to take the necessary action on everything related to companies' pilgrims. Ahmed Ibrahim, Head of the Chamber's Religious Tourism Committee, and Osama Emara, the Chamber's Executive Director, visited Al Rajhi's headquarters in Madinah, where they discussed everything related to pilgrims' presence in Madinah, from reception on arrival and follow-up of accommodation to tracking the arrival of pilgrims' luggage under the new Saudi "Hajj Without Luggage" system, and immediate intervention to resolve any delay in a pilgrim's luggage. The meeting confirmed that tourism pilgrims' luggage has been arriving at hotels in a largely orderly manner.
On the other hand, members of the Chamber of Tourism Companies discussed with Al Rajhi officials, during the meeting at the Madinah office, preparations to facilitate the delivery of Nusuk cards to pilgrims as soon as they arrive, stressing the need to take the necessary measures and facilities to do so. Al Rajhi responded by increasing the number of staff responsible for issuing and printing Nusuk cards, and a mechanism was agreed for delivering them to pilgrims with the knowledge of travel company supervisors and with the direct intervention and assistance of officials of the tourism sub-committee in Madinah.
