“Yet even when you have concluded your rites of Hajj, then still you shall remember God with much solemn reverence, like your past remembrance of your forefathers – or with yet greater solemnity and remembrance…” Quran 2:200.

This year’s hajj is over. The Saudi Arabia authorities drew curtains on the spiritual obligation last Sunday expressing satisfaction that it was a successful and incident-free exercise. A total of 1,673,230 pilgrims participated in the exercise this year with 1,506,578 international pilgrims and 166,654 domestic pilgrims. Also, the breakdown, released by Deputy Emir of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishaal, indicates 877,841 male and 795,389 female.

Prince Saud bin Mishaal who is also vice chairman of the Permanent Hajj and Umrah Committee, announced the successful conclusion of Hajj 2025, declaring it free of any security, health, or service-related incidents.

Speaking from the governorate’s headquarters in Mina, Prince Saud praised the Kingdom’s leadership for the feat.

He said, “On behalf of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and emir of the Makkah Region, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, minister of interior and chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee — and in the name of all Hajj workers — I offer heartfelt congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for the distinguished execution of the operational plans, which enabled pilgrims to perform their rites in safety and peace.”

The top Saudi official expressed gratitude to members of the security, health, and service sectors, as well as to the many volunteers who contributed to the success of the season, emphasizing their sincerity and commitment to serving the guests of Allah in accordance with the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership.

He also commended the pilgrims, underscoring their cooperation and compliance with the regulations and instructions, which played a key role in the success of the season.

In closing, Prince Saud affirmed that preparations for next year’s Hajj will begin immediately. “The Kingdom — its leadership, government, and people — takes great pride in serving the holy sites and their visitors,” he said.

This thinking of kick-starting the preparations for Hajj 2026 was also echoed on Monday, at the formal closing ceremony of the 2025 edition.

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah, formally declared that the preparations for the 2026/1447 Hajj season has open, signaling the official start of arrangements and operational readiness for the 2026 Hajj .

The announcement was made during the Labbaitum Awards of Excellence ceremony held in Makkah, an event that marks the conclusion of the 2025/1446 AH Hajj season while honouring outstanding achievements and contributors to the Hajj industry during the 2025 Hajj operation.

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Chairman and CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, Secretary of the Commission, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Ali, alongside leaders of Hajj missions from numerous participating countries.

In his address, the Minister reassured all stakeholders of the Kingdom’s continued commitment to ensuring a safe, smooth, and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience for the guests of Allah-Arrahman.

Dr. Al-Rabiah, in his keynote address, reflected on the success of the 2025/1446AH Hajj and emphasized the need for continued innovation, early planning and diligent coordination:
“It pleases me to congratulate you and all the pilgrims that completed this 1446AH (2025) Hajj in ease and comfort. We began this season fully aware of the huge responsibility and the weight of tremendous trust we are shouldering. Through meticulous planning and careful implementation and execution, we ensured peace, security and simplicity in the performance of this noble journey.”

The momentum for the Hajj of 2026/1447AH has now officially started. Supporting this declaration is an official release of the Preliminary Arrangements Document for the Hajj Affairs’ Offices from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the various Hajj nations.

The document formally empowers all Hajj missions to begin public announcements and initiate preparations and arrangements for the upcoming 2026 (1447AH) Hajj exercise. It permits the commencement of early engagements with licensed services’ providers, including those responsible for accommodation, feeding (in Makkah and Madinah), transportation and airline operating companies. Importantly, it also authorizes collaboration under the Kingdom’s Foreign Pilgrims’ Service Provider Regulation system.

The Kitamuhu Misk ceremony, whose name means “its ending is like musk,” encapsulates the beauty, dignity and fulfilment of a well-concluded 2025 Hajj season. It is both a symbolic farewell and an operational bridge to the future 2026 Hajj.

For NAHCON, the moment is one of reflection and resolve. Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman noted the remarkable support rendered by Nigerian stakeholders, state pilgrims’ boards, licensed tour operators, health officials, aviation experts, various security operatives and the very dedicated NAHCON staff, who worked selflessly to uphold the Commission’s mission.

Specifically on Tuesday at the post-Arafat meeting held in Makkah, Prof Saleh expressed deep gratitude to staff, volunteers, medical teams, the ulama, media personnel, private sector partners, and other contributors who worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth pilgrimage.

He announced that the return journey of Nigerian pilgrims would commence on June 13, 2025 (today), and is expected to be completed within three weeks. Professor Saleh called for continued support and cooperation to ensure a smooth return process.

“As earlier promised, NAHCON remains committed to supporting each community member with token allowances, not as a reward, but as a small gesture of appreciation for your service to our pilgrims and to the nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued a clear reminder to all pilgrims to exit the Kingdom before their Hajj visas expire. The ministry emphasized that leaving on time is not only a legal requirement but also a gesture of respect for the Kingdom’s rules and the sacred nature of the pilgrimage.

In an official statement, the ministry said, abiding by the designated departure period preserves the integrity of Hajj procedures and ensures ongoing facilitation for all guests of God.

It would be recalled that the out-bound journey began on Friday, May 9, 2025 with the first contingent of 1,874 Nigerian pilgrims from Imo, Bauchi, Kebbi, Osun and Kogi states. The airlift operation was concluded on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.