As of Friday, the number of pilgrims who had departed from the city after completing their Hajj journey was 418,734, including those who left on the same day.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Hajj pilgrimage was successfully conducted this year with enhanced health and safety measures in place.

The Saudi government had implemented several measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims, including the use of thermal scanners and masks, as well as the rollout of vaccines for frontline workers.

The high number of pilgrims arriving in Madinah has resulted in a high hotel occupancy rate of 54 percent, with 161,750 pilgrims still in the city.

Pilgrims are expected to stay in Madinah for a few days before departing for their respective countries.

The Hajj pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Muslims to perform a series of religious rituals in the holy city of Mecca and nearby sites.

It is estimated that around two million Muslims from around the world participate in the Hajj pilgrimage each year.