
Half of Al-Massiah Pilgrims Arrive, Serving Social and Tourism Delegations from 21 Countries Including Egypt
Al-Massiah Pilgrims Services Group — the official and accredited provider for Hajj pilgrims from Egypt's Social Solidarity and Tourism sectors (both land route and five-star categories) — announced that over 53% of the total pilgrims contracted for the 1446H (2025) Hajj season have arrived in Makkah. The pilgrims entered through various air, land, and sea ports.
Bander bin Abdulrahman Damanhouri, Vice Chairman of Al-Massiah, confirmed that the reception of pilgrims, including the Egyptian contingent, follows a meticulously planned, phased process to ensure smooth arrivals, seamless accommodation allocation, and efficient transportation — all leading up to the full arrival of pilgrims before the Day of Tarwiyah.
He noted that the group's field service offices have welcomed pilgrims from Egypt, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Indonesia, Singapore, Benin, Madagascar, Tanzania, Malaysia, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Guinea, and Sudan, in a warm and authentically Saudi atmosphere. Upon arrival, pilgrims were greeted with Zamzam water, dates, traditional Saudi coffee, flowers, and commemorative gifts.
Damanhouri added that the services are being delivered in full coordination with Saudi government entities to provide high-quality support in transportation, housing, catering, and crowd management. This comes in line with the directives of the wise leadership and within the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which places serving the Guests of Allah as a top national priority.
Several Egyptian pilgrims and others from different nationalities expressed their deep appreciation for the high level of service and organization. They praised the heartfelt welcome and care they received from the moment they arrived, emphasizing their gratitude for the Kingdom's ongoing efforts in serving Islam and Muslims.
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