SOCIETY — April 17, 2026
Afghan Hajj Pilgrim Departures for Saudi Arabia to Begin Saturday
The departure process for thirty thousand Afghan Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia begins Saturday with the first flight leaving Kabul International Airport at three a.m. for Medina. This year's cost per pilgrim is two hundred sixty six thousand four hundred Afghanis, down about sixteen thousand Afghanis from last year, according to the Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Pajhwok — corroborated by Amu TV and Hurriyat — 2 min read
The transportation of Afghan pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage is scheduled to begin on Saturday from Kabul International Airport with the first flight departing at three in the morning bound for Medina.
Dr. Noor Mohammad Saqib, the Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, said that preparations for the transfer of pilgrims were completed in Kabul on the evening before the departures.
The minister said thirty thousand Afghan pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year. This is the same number as last year when the same number performed Hajj.
Saqib stated that the cost per pilgrim this year is two hundred sixty six thousand four hundred Afghanis. This is down by about sixteen thousand Afghanis from the cost last year.
He added that the total cost of the Hajj process this year is seven billion eight hundred eighteen million three hundred thousand seven hundred twenty Afghanis.
The minister provided details on the timing of the pilgrim departures, the number of participants and the costs involved in this year's Hajj.
Read the original reporting at Pajhwok →
Reliability assessment
Three independent outlets corroborate the announcement by named Minister Dr. Noor Mohammad Saqib regarding the Hajj departure schedule and costs; the core 'X said Y' fact is directly attributable and consistent across sources.
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Where reports agree
- Afghan Hajj pilgrim departures begin Saturday from Kabul International Airport with first flight to Medina at 3 a.m.
- 30,000 pilgrims will travel this year, same as last year.
- Cost per pilgrim reduced by approximately 16,000 AFN to 266,400 AFN this year.
- Total Hajj process cost is over 7.8 billion AFN.
- Statement attributed to Dr. Noor Mohammad Saqib, Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs.
Filed by 3 outlets
Pajhwok
Originating
Reported straight
Reported straight
Amu TV
Reported straight
Reported straight
Hurriyat
Reported straight
Reported straight
Filed under
Society — Hajj, Afghan Pilgrims, Kabul International Airport, Noor Mohammad Saqib, Saudi Arabia
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