78K Egyptians are traveling to Hajj this year: ministry

CAIRO – 17 August 2017: A total of 78,000 Egyptians are recorded to be traveling to Hajj this year, including 22,000 pilgrims who have won the governmental Hajj draw, Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday.

The number of Egyptian pilgrims has risen by 5 percent in 5 years, a statement said, adding that the Ministry pulls all stops to ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims before and after completion of Hajj rituals.

Three days ago, the first batch of 5 thousand Egyptian pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia, with 1,289 passengers having arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and 4,565 others in Medina, Egypt’s Consul General in Jeddah Hazem Ramadan said on Monday.