The first group of Hajj pilgrims from Australia have arrived in KSA. This is the first year pilgrims from Australia have been chosen through a new e-registration mechanism, itself a part of a digitalisation initiative by the KSA Ministry of Haj and Umrah. The e-portal is said to offer competitive rates for Hajj packages, and streamlines e-visa issuances.
The Ministry of Haj and Umrah also shared details of domestic pilgrim registration. Over 297,000 applications had been received, with the highest proportion of applicants aged 31 to 40. There was no preference given to those who had responded the earliest.