Pilgrimage
A total of 80 tourist buses, carrying approximately 7,500 pilgrims, departed smoothly from Mecca and Medina and traveled via the Halat Ammar land crossing on the Saudi-Jordanian border, continuing through the Jordanian port of Aqaba and arriving at Egypt’s Nuweiba port.
Six flights were operated from Jeddah to Cairo, carrying pilgrims from the governorates of Sohag, Beheira, Giza, Menoufia, and Beni Suef, along with individual pilgrims, tourists, transit travelers, and business and residential pilgrims.
Abdel-Moetti confirmed that flights transporting pilgrims to both Medina and Mecca have commenced, as part of the Hajj Lottery Mission’s air bridge between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The transportation efforts will continue in the coming days to complete the transfer of all pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Female supervisors are essential for helping and serving the senior female pilgrims, especially those who are suffering from chronical diseases like diabetes and hypertension and those who cannot walk for long stances and move with wheelchairs.
The decree is an outcome of the investigation conducted by the task force formed in June to identify the reasons behind the tragedy.
The ministry highlighted that the total number of Egyptian pilgrims this year is 17,871.
The president has been performing the ritual this week.
The pilgrimage majorly takes place during the four-day Adha Eid, which will begin on Sunday.
EgyptAir has released guidelines for pilgrims traveling from Egyptian airports to the Holy Lands for this year's Hajj pilgrimage.
The company announced in a statement that 8 flights from Jeddah and 9 flights from Medina to the Cairo International Airport, in addition to two flights from Jeddah to Alexandria’s Burj Al Arab Airport, and two other flights from Jeddah to Bamako in Mali.
Al Azhar also voiced its gratitude to the Kingdom of Morocco, king and people, for taking an action against Sweden after summoning the Chargé d'Affaires.
The company added that it is keen to overcome all obstacles, to facilitate all procedures for the pilgrims and to provide the best services.
The pilgrims expressed their thanks and appreciation for what the Ministry of Interior is doing to provide all aspects of care and attention during their departure to perform the rituals of Hajj [pilgrimage], according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior.
The company asked all tourism companies and travel agents not to issue tickets or accept visas of all kinds on flights heading to Jeddah/Madinah, starting from Tuesday, May 30, 2023, until Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
The ban includes people who are the most vulnerable to the risks of infection, according to the controls approved by the Ministry of Health.
The first batch of pilgrims will depart on eight flights from the Cairo International Airport; six flights to Madinah and two flights to Jeddah, the company added.
There is no point in banning the visits of Copts to Jerusalem at the moment, as such decision has weakened Coptic presence in the holy city, Pope Tawadros II of Egypt aid Friday.
This decision has been taken to ensure safety for the pilgrims by taking all preventive measures and applying social distancing.
Saudi Arabia on Friday reopened Al-Haram Mosque in the holy city of Mecca and Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi in the holy city of Medina after temporarily closing them for one night for sterilization, reported state TV Al-Ekhbariya.
In a statement, the Egyptian state-owned company added that the cancellation decision has been enacted on Thursday, February 27, 2020.
