Hajj 2026 Concludes: Pilgrim Departures Complete

Saudi authorities have announced the formal conclusion of Hajj 2026 and the end of the pilgrim departure phase, with the final groups leaving the Kingdom through land, sea and air ports as transport facilities return to normal traffic.

The official flight departure window for foreign pilgrims ran from 30 May to 30 June 2026 across all international airports, under an operational plan managed by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Departure operations covered major air hubs including مطار الملك عبدالعزيز الدولي in Jeddah, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah and مطار الملك خالد الدولي in الرياض, as well as Jeddah Islamic Port, other sea ports, and land border crossings staffed by dedicated passport and customs teams.

The General Directorate of Passports completed exit procedures for departing pilgrims using enhanced passport counters and smart mobile stations, supported by AI translation in 138 languages to speed processing. GACA maintained round‑the‑clock quality assurance, inspection and monitoring teams at international terminals, with structured slots for Hajj charter and scheduled flights before a return to standard civil aviation schedules after 30 June.

Departure guidelines required pilgrims to arrive at the airport at least four hours before their scheduled flight, complete pre‑departure check‑in and documentation beforehand, and follow assigned group schedules issued through Hajj missions and organizers. Saudi Customs enforced departure‑hall rules, including compliance with regulations and terminal signage and a ban on unattended luggage anywhere on airport premises.

الخطوط السعودية operated a 75‑day Hajj window covering both arrival and departure phases, with dedicated flights and ground services before its network resumed normal scheduling. With all pilgrims now transported out of the holy sites and onward to ports of departure, officials confirmed the transition to planning for the next Hajj season, as normal traffic resumes in and around Makkah, Madinah and key transport hubs.

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