Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Mar 21, 2026

Hajj would come to a close Tuesday as half of pilgrims complete rituals

A large number of pilgrims, mainly domestic pilgrims, started performing Tawaf Al-Wida (farewell circumambulation) before leaving Makkah on Monday evening after completing their rituals of Hajj.
The Saudi authorities announced that 50 percent of pilgrims have left Mina on Monday after performing their rituals while the remaining pilgrims would stay one more day in Mina and will return on Tuesday after completing their stoning ritual.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has prepared an integrated system of service to facilitate smooth performance of the tawaf ritual. This was with the follow up of Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, which has mobilized its human resources, including 500 workers, to manage and organize crowds, and that is in cooperation with the security authorities within the Grand Mosque.

Around 50 percent of the pilgrims had left earlier the tent city of Mina after completing the stoning ritual for Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Wida to mark the end of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims started the stoning ritual this afternoon in an orderly and peaceful way.

They stoned seven pebbles each, first at Jamrat Al-Sugra, then at Jamrat Al-Wusta, and finally at Jamrat Al-Aqba in a ritual emulating Prophet Ibrahim’s stoning of the devil at the three spots where he is said to have appeared trying to dissuade him from obeying God’s order to sacrifice his son Ismail. The ritual is the renunciation of evil in all its forms and a promise never to fall prey to the machinations and intrigues of Satan, the cursed.

Although Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, concludes officially on Tuesday, the third day of Tashreeq (Ayyam Al-Tashreeq), pilgrims are permitted to leave a day earlier. Half of the pilgrims of this year’s Hajj took advantage of the concession to leave a day earlier.

A huge contingent of security forces and Civil Defense personnel as well as health workers was seen at various points at the mammoth state-of-the-art Jamarat Complex, to oversee the smooth conduct of the stoning ritual. After reaching their accommodation in Mina, pilgrims packed their baggage and boarded buses that took them to Makkah to perform farewell Tawaf.

Most domestic pilgrims will leave Makkah on Monday after performing Tawaf Al-Wida while foreign pilgrims would stay back for some time depending on the schedule of their departure flights. They will perform Tawaf Al-Wida before leaving Makkah.

The pilgrims were seen in a euphoric mood after completing their lifetime spiritual journey. Several pilgrims expressed their joy and delight for getting a unique opportunity and the divine blessing to be among the limited number of the Guests of God.

They lauded the extraordinary efforts made by the government of Saudi Arabia, led by Custodian of the Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, as well as the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and all the agencies involved in the pilgrimage for the services that helped them perform their rituals in ease and comfort. They asked God to accept their Hajj and reward all those who contributed to the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Asian Refiners Urge Saudi Arabia to Revise Oil Pricing Mechanism Amid War-Driven Volatility
Gulf States Weigh US Base Access and Military Alignment as Iran War Intensifies
IRGC Claims Strikes on Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as Conflict Widens
Remains of Fallen Soldier Repatriated Following Death in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Multiple Drones Amid Continued Iranian-Linked Attacks
Iran Tensions Challenge Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Shift to Red Sea Oil Exports
Saudi Arabia Turns to Alternative Export Routes as Hormuz Disruption Strains Oil Flows
Saudi Arabia and UAE Move Closer to Backing US-Israeli Campaign Against Iran
Saudi Arabia Signals Readiness for Military Response as Iran Tensions Escalate
Saudi Arabia Warns Oil Could Surge Beyond $180 as Iran Conflict Disrupts Global Supply
Saudi Arabia Reports Drone Strike on Key Red Sea Refinery in Yanbu
United States Urges Citizens to Leave Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Regional Conflict
Former Media Executive Chronicles Rise of Saudi Crown Prince in New Book
Saudi Aramco–Exxon Refinery in Yanbu Targeted in Latest Wave of Iranian Attacks
Greek-Operated Patriot System Intercepts Iranian Missiles Over Saudi Arabia
Asian Refiners Urge Saudi Arabia to Revise Oil Pricing as War Upends Markets
Arab and Muslim Ministers Convene in Riyadh to Coordinate Response to Iran Crisis
Saudi Arabia Expands Global Partnerships to Accelerate Vision 2030 Transformation
Europe and Japan Signal Readiness to Help Secure Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Crisis
Saudi Arabia Signals Firm Stance as Iranian-Linked Attacks Intensify
U.S. Lawmakers Press Rubio to Enforce Strong Safeguards in Saudi Nuclear Deal
Iran Issues Evacuation Warning to Gulf States After Strike on Major Gas Field
Saudi Arabia to Convene Arab and Islamic Ministers for Urgent Talks on Regional Conflict
Saudi Arabia Confirms Eid al-Fitr as Moon Sighting Determines End of Ramadan
Saudi Arabia Boosts Crude Exports to Highest Levels Since 2023, Data Shows
Iran Issues Warning to Gulf Energy Infrastructure Following Strike on Major Gas Field
Saudi Arabia Restarts Ras Tanura Refinery Following Drone Strike, Reinforcing Energy Resilience
Saudi Arabia Restarts Ras Tanura Refinery Following Drone Strike, Reinforcing Energy Resilience
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Ballistic Missiles Targeting Riyadh Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia Restores Significant Oil Flows Using Hormuz Bypass Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia Signals Potential Activation of Defence Pact with Pakistan Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Saudi Supreme Court Urges Muslims to Observe Crescent Moon for Eid Determination
Saudi Supreme Court Urges Muslims to Observe Crescent Moon for Eid Determination
Saudi Arabia Reassesses Iran Strategy as Regional Conflict Tests MBS’s Diplomatic Bet
Iran Steps Up Drone Strikes on Saudi Oil Sites, Heightening Risks to Global Supply
Regional Fallout Grows as Iran Conflict Sends Shockwaves Across Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Seven Drones in Intensifying Regional Security Threat
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Seven Drones in Intensifying Regional Security Threat
Saudi Arabia Weighs Regional Risks as Iran Conflict Deepens and Security Calculations Shift
Gulf States Confront Limits of U.S. Protection as Regional War Intensifies
Gulf Producers Rush to Reroute Oil Exports as Iran Tightens Control of Hormuz Strait
Saudi Gaming Investment Arm Acquires Strategic Stake in Capcom to Expand Global Influence
Iran Intensifies Strikes on Saudi Oil Infrastructure as Regional War Escalates
Saudi Arabia Targets South African Professionals in New Recruitment Drive Amid Regional Uncertainty
Formula One Faces Major Financial Hit as Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Cancelled Amid Middle East Conflict
U.S. and Saudi Firms Launch Local Production of Attritable Drone Systems in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia and UAE Warn Rising Gulf Tensions Could Endanger Regional Security
Saudi Arabia Rejects Claims It Encouraged Prolonged War With Iran
Saudi Arabia to Host World’s Largest Single-Cell Protein Plant as Food Security Push Accelerates
Saudi Crown Prince Urges Trump to Continue Military Pressure on Iran
×