On Sunday, Saudi Arabia announced officially that at least 1,301 people died during the Hajj 2024 season.
According to statements from Saudi officials, most of those who died were from the unauthorized pilgrims who went to Hajj without a permit.
![]() |
No Hajj without a permit sign in Saudi Arabia "AFP" |
This is the first time Saudi officials have admitted that such a large number of pilgrims have passed away this Hajj season, following a week of public denial online.
Saudi Arabia officially hosted about 1.8 million pilgrims this season; a number lower than in years before the coronavirus pandemic.
Unofficial reports indicate that the majority of those who died were Egyptians who went on pilgrimage without a permit.
According to the Wall Street Journal last Friday, over 680 Egyptians died due to the scorching heatwave during the pilgrimage, almost all of whom participated without permits. An additional 700 Egyptians are still missing, the report added.
On Saturday, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered the immediate revocation of licenses for 16 tourism companies involved in organizing unauthorized pilgrimage arrangements over the death of the unauthorized Egyptian pilgrims during the Hajj 2024 season.
The officials responsible for these companies are referred to public prosecution on charges of fraud, the statement of the Egyptian government said.