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Religion
India Secures 175,000 Pilgrimage Slots for Hajj 2027 under Saudi Agreement
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 10 Nov 2026, 05:49 AM
👁 10
Saudi Arabia has allocated 175,000 Hajj slots to India for the 2027 pilgrimage season, as part of its annual quota system.
Saudi Arabia’s annual Hajj quota system has granted India 175,000 slots for the 2027 pilgrimage, reflecting the growing demand from Indian Muslims to perform the sacred journey. The allocation was announced following a bilateral agreement between the two governments, confirming the numbers for the next year’s Umrah and Hajj season.
The quota mechanism is designed to manage the limited capacity at Mecca’s holy sites, ensuring orderly crowd control and adequate facilities for pilgrims. India’s share, now at 1.75 lakh, marks a modest increase from previous years and underscores the importance of the pilgrimage for the country’s sizable Muslim population.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has begun coordinating with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to facilitate visa processing, travel arrangements, and on‑ground support for the allotted pilgrims. Officials expect the application window to open in early 2027, with detailed guidelines to be released shortly.
The expanded quota is likely to boost travel agencies specializing in Hajj packages and may influence related sectors such as hospitality and transport, as thousands of Indian devotees prepare for the journey to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The quota mechanism is designed to manage the limited capacity at Mecca’s holy sites, ensuring orderly crowd control and adequate facilities for pilgrims. India’s share, now at 1.75 lakh, marks a modest increase from previous years and underscores the importance of the pilgrimage for the country’s sizable Muslim population.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has begun coordinating with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to facilitate visa processing, travel arrangements, and on‑ground support for the allotted pilgrims. Officials expect the application window to open in early 2027, with detailed guidelines to be released shortly.
The expanded quota is likely to boost travel agencies specializing in Hajj packages and may influence related sectors such as hospitality and transport, as thousands of Indian devotees prepare for the journey to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.