Moroccan Pilgrims to Enter Ihram During Flight as Hajj Trips Head Straight to Mecca
Rabat – The Moroccan Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has announced that starting Monday, May 26, all Moroccan pilgrims traveling under the official Hajj program will fly directly from airports in Morocco to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
All these flights will land at Jeddah Airport, after which pilgrims will go straight to Mecca, according to a statement from the ministry. Pilgrims are required to carry their Ihram garments and wear them on the plane, as they will enter the state of Ihram during the flight when they pass over the Miqat zone of Rabigh.
The first flight to follow this new route will be SV3320, departing from Rabat-Sale International Airport at 5:05 a.m. on Monday, May 26.
Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able must perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. It is a deeply spiritual journey, where Muslims from around the world gather to worship, reflect, and seek forgiveness.
Pilgrims, also known as 'Hajjis,' wear simple white garments called Ihram to show unity and equality. The journey includes a series of rituals performed over several days in and around Mecca.
As the Hajj season begins, King Mohammed VI recently addressed Moroccan pilgrims with a message reminding them that they are ambassadors of Morocco and urged them to represent their country with dignity and honor.
The King called on the pilgrims to display values of tolerance, respect, solidarity, and discipline throughout their journey. He said that these values reflect the true image of Morocco and its culture. Tags: HajjihramMoroccoSaudi Arabia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
10 hours ago
- Morocco World
Ceuta Gears Up for Marhaba Operation 2025
Rabat – The Spanish enclave of Ceuta is gearing up for Marhaba Operation, an annual initiative to welcome millions of members of Morocco's diaspora during the summer season. Spanish news agency EFE said on Sunday that authorities in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta implemented a series of measures to facilitate the transit of Moroccans as part of the operation, which will take place from June 15 to September 15. EFE quoted sources from the local government in the enclave, noting that measures will concern the Loma Colmenar zone, about 100 meters from the Tarajal border. The zone is where vehicles arrive in Ceuta from Algeciras port for passing. Cars stop in the area pending the authorities' permit to leave for the border. Ceuta authorities deployed digital tools designed to 'improve the user experience' through the Embolsamiento Ceuta mobile application, which is available in three languages to allow users to see estimated wait times at the border crossing checkpoint. The application also seeks to enable the passengers to check the expected vehicle flow on dates like weekends and holidays. EFE announced that the application is available on both the Apple Store and Google Play. Authorities forecast a 4% increase in the number of people who will transit through the operation this year, in addition to a 5% increase in vehicle transits. Ports and transit centers ready for visitors Moroccan authorities are also gearing up for the kick-off of the operation. In May, Morocco's customs administration announced measures to simplify vehicle import rules for diaspora as part of the upcoming Marhaba operation. As part of the announced measures, Moroccans aged 60 and older who have lived abroad for at least 10 years can now receive a 90% tax reduction on their imported vehicle's new-state value. Moroccan and Spanish high-level officials have also repeatedly held meetings as part of their joint efforts to facilitate the transit of Moroccans flocking to the North African country for the summer season. Both sides frequently express determination to cooperate to ensure the smooth, safe, and secure running of the operation. Last year, over 2.8 million passengers, including two million Moroccans living abroad, and 662,000 vehicles transited through Moroccan ports between June 5 and September 5. The number represents an increase of 5.5% in total passenger traffic compared to the same period in 2023. It is also up 17% in Moroccan diaspora transits and a 9.5% increase for vehicles. Morocco mobilized over 29 ships capable of making 535 weekly trips, providing a weekly transport capacity of approximately 500,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles. Tags: Marhaba 2024Marhaba 2025
Morocco World
11 hours ago
- Morocco World
Over 205,000 Pilgrims Without Hajj Permits Expelled from Mecca
Rabat – Saudi Authorities have expelled more than 205,000 people attempting to perform the Hajj pilgrimage without a permit. Such violations are a recurring issue, mainly committed by individuals who fail to obtain permits due to high demand, limited quotas, or financial constraints. Some also fall victim to fraudulent offices that promise fake permits. These violations occur through unauthorized entry routes, using forged documents, or being transported in private vehicles to bypass security. Mohammed Al-Bassami, the Director of Public Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, announced new legislation to deal with such violations during the Hajj season. He revealed that Saudi Public Security has identified over 415 fake Hajj offices and turned back more than 269,000 pilgrims without permits. Authorities have imposed penalties on more than 75,000 violators of Hajj regulations. Al-Bassami added that security teams arrested 1,239 individuals attempting to transport unauthorized pilgrims. Saudi Public Security turned back a total of 110,000 vehicles at the entrances of Mecca for transporting these individuals, he added. Saudi authorities have established permanent security checkpoints at the entrances to the holy city to stop violators. Authorities are aiming to ensure safety and proper organization of the pilgrimage, as these violations could cause serious overcrowding and increase risks of accidents and stampedes. Millions of Muslims from across perform the annual pilgrimage each year. The religious ritual is one of the five pillars of Islam, an obligation for all worshippers physically and financially capable of performing it. Tags: HajjMeccaSaudi Arabia
Morocco World
13 hours ago
- Morocco World
CGEM Urges Morocco's Private Sector to Grant June 9 Holiday for Eid Al Adha
Rabat – Chakib Alj, the President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), has urged the private sector companies to grant employees a day off on Monday, June 9, aligning with the public sector, in celebration of Eid Al-Adha, which will take place on Saturday, June 7 in Morocco. Last week, the government decided to exceptionally suspend work in state administrations and local authorities on Monday, June 9. CGEM called on companies to follow suit, noting: 'We invite, as far as possible, private sector companies to also grant Monday, June 9, as a day off to their employees,' Alj said. Eid Al Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The Islamic month marks Eid Al Adha or the sacrifice feast, which commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah's command. Dhu Al Hijjah also marks the Hajj pilgrimage, which will commence on June 4. While the feast is a sacred and special time in Morocco, Moroccans will celebrate it differently this time. In February, Morocco announced its decision to cancel the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual due to drought and a notable decrease in the country's livestock population due to dry seasons that affected Morocco's agriculture sector for six years in a row. This is not the first time Morocco has canceled the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual. The first time dates back to 1963 when the late King Hassan II announced the cancellation of the sacrifice ritual during the Sand War between Morocco and Algeria, as it affected the two countries' economies. The second time was in 1981, and the cancellation was due to drought, as well as in 1996. Last week, ONCF announced that it has expanded the train schedule ahead of Eid Al Adha from May 30 to June 15 to help travelers move easily and safely during the holiday. The program includes up to 237 trains per day across the national network. ONCF also pledged to add extra trains on the main routes to help passengers during busy times. Tags: Eid Al Adhaeid al adha 2025
