The Ministry of Interior will soon begin accepting applications from citizens wishing to perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year through the Hajj lottery. The application process officially starts next Sunday, either by visiting police stations and centers nationwide or via the dedicated electronic portal for the Hajj lottery, amid intensive administrative and health preparations to ensure a safe and organized Hajj season.

Health Requirements

The Ministry of Interior emphasized the importance of adhering to the health requirements set by the Ministry of Health in coordination with Saudi authorities. Travel is prohibited for those suffering from chronic and serious diseases such as kidney failure, pulmonary fibrosis, advanced heart and liver diseases, as well as Alzheimer’s, active cancer, and infectious diseases. Pregnant women in the final months or those with high-risk pregnancies are also not allowed to travel to protect their safety and that of their fetuses.

Vaccination Completion

As part of preventive measures, all accepted applicants in the Hajj lottery must complete mandatory medical vaccinations, primarily the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine at least 10 days and no more than 5 years before travel. Any additional vaccinations required by health authorities later must also be completed, as part of efforts to ensure pilgrims’ health and prevent infectious diseases.

Comfortable Accommodation

The Ministry of Interior continues its logistical preparations for organizing the Hajj lottery season, annually providing distinguished accommodations for pilgrims near the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, alongside fully equipped camps in the holy sites that include all comforts to facilitate performing the rituals in suitable conditions and reduce the hardship of movement and crowding.

Medical Teams Accompany Pilgrims

The ministry’s plan also includes providing medical teams to accompany pilgrims during the journey, especially in the holy sites, offering immediate healthcare for emergency cases and paying special attention to the elderly and those with health needs, within an integrated system aimed at maintaining pilgrims’ health throughout the rituals until their return home.

Religious Scholars Accompany Pilgrims

As part of the awareness and religious aspect, a number of scholars from Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Awqaf are dispatched to accompany pilgrims to answer religious inquiries and provide necessary guidance to perform rituals correctly and smoothly, in accordance with Islamic Sharia teachings and the conditions allowed within the holy lands.

The organizational procedures implemented annually by the Ministry of Interior include appointing officers to accompany lottery pilgrims to facilitate their movements and handle any emergencies, in addition to establishing a central operations room that operates 24/7 to monitor the journey details from departure until pilgrims return home, ensuring the highest levels of organization and safety.

Increasing Annual Demand

The Hajj lottery system enjoys a large annual demand from citizens, thanks to the Ministry of Interior’s precise organization and comprehensive services that consider pilgrims’ needs from health, spiritual, and administrative perspectives, reflecting citizens’ renewed trust in the ministry’s ability to efficiently and responsibly manage this vital file.

Document Review

With the application opening date approaching, the Ministry of Interior advises applicants to ensure they meet all required conditions, foremost of which is the validity of their national ID card, and to carefully review their data to avoid rejection of any non-compliant application. The ministry also confirms that all data will be thoroughly reviewed to ensure fairness and transparency in selecting accepted applicants.

Lottery Schedule Announcement

The ministry is expected to announce the full schedule for conducting the lottery soon, along with travel dates for successful pilgrims and procedures for obtaining visas and vaccinations, in full coordination with the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities, as part of an integrated plan to ensure the season proceeds optimally.