“I am pleased to announce the success of this year’s Hajj, a success marked by security, organised operations, and the complete delivery of services and support,” Deputy Emir of Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishaal, said on Friday, as Saudi Arabia formally declared the 2026 Hajj season an exceptional success.
Prince Saud, who is also Vice Chairman of the Permanent Hajj and Umrah Committee, delivered the announcement in a televised address, noting that this year’s pilgrimage was defined by seamless coordination among all participating agencies.
He said pilgrims performed their rites in an atmosphere of safety, order, and spiritual tranquillity across the holy sites.
He added that the achievement reflects the Kingdom’s sustained commitment to ensuring the comfort and wellbeing of pilgrims, supported by integrated security, health, and logistical services that operated efficiently throughout the Hajj period.
According to him, the holy sites were marked by remarkable organisation and harmony, driven by coordinated efforts in managing massive crowds at every stage of the pilgrimage.
Prince Saud further stressed that the success of Hajj 2026 was made possible through the directives and continuous support of the Saudi leadership, which ensured full preparedness across all sectors involved in serving pilgrims.
Muslim News gathered that more than 1.7 million pilgrims performed the 2026 Hajj, including over 50,000 Nigerian pilgrims, who joined other Muslims from across the world in completing the sacred rites.
The pilgrims, including Nigerians, completed the core rites of Hajj, including the final symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat on the second day of Tashreeq, the 12th day of Dhul-Hijjah.
Thereafter, they began returning to Makkah in batches to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah (The Circumambulation of Emanation is performed after returning from Mina).
While many proceeded to complete the farewell Tawaf as of Friday, authorities maintained a high level of preparedness to ensure smooth movement within the Grand Mosque and surrounding areas despite heavy crowd flow.
Pilgrims were also seen gradually departing Mina after completing the stoning ritual, with many proceeding to visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, while others departed the Kingdom after fulfilling their pilgrimage obligations.
No disease outbreaks recorded
Earlier on Wednesday, the Saudi Ministry of Health confirmed that no outbreaks of diseases or significant public health threats were recorded during the 2026 Hajj season, describing the overall health condition of pilgrims as stable and reassuring.
The ministry attributed the development to a robust and highly coordinated healthcare system deployed across Makkah, Madinah, Mina, Arafat and other holy sites, designed to respond rapidly to emergencies and reduce health risks associated with large-scale gatherings.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson, the healthcare system operated with high efficiency throughout the pilgrimage period, delivering over 1.2 million medical services by the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah.
These services included emergency interventions, outpatient consultations, inpatient care, and specialist surgical procedures.
Health authorities also noted that field medical teams responded promptly to cases of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and other common Hajj-related conditions, supported by mobile clinics, ambulance services, and fully equipped hospitals operating within and around the holy sites.
Preventive measures were also intensified this year, including public awareness campaigns on heat protection, hydration, and the use of umbrellas, which recorded a compliance rate of nearly 80 percent among pilgrims.
The ministry further highlighted that surveillance and monitoring systems were strengthened to ensure early detection of any potential outbreaks, with laboratory networks and rapid response units placed on continuous alert throughout the Hajj period.
Officials said the absence of any epidemic or major health incident reflected the effectiveness of preventive planning, real-time monitoring, and coordination between health, security, and Hajj authorities.
They reaffirmed that all medical facilities would remain fully operational until the complete departure of pilgrims from the holy sites, ensuring continued care for those still completing their post-Hajj movements.
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