"The number of pilgrims from foreign countries ... rose to 622,510 as of yesterday," General Salem Ben Mohammed Al Balahid, an interior ministry official, was quoted as saying by the official SPA news agency. The majority of them had arrived by plane, he added.
In recent years around 2 million Muslims have come to Saudi for the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and every devout Muslim who has the means is required to complete it at least once in life.
© 2005 Agence France-Presse
To add a comment,
Please log in:
Don't have an account?
Register now to comment on stories and stay up to date on important events and issues in the Middle East with our newsletter.