First group of Egyptian pilgrims leave for Saudi Arabia on May 8

CAIRO – 9 April 2026: Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity announced that the first group of pilgrims for the 1447 AH/2026 Hajj [Islamic pilgrimage] will leave Cairo on May 8, 2026 towards Saudi Arabia.

Ayman Abdel-Mawgoud, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry, announced on Thursday that the first group of lottery pilgrims from NGOs will depart for Medina starting May. The remaining groups of pilgrims from NGOs will follow successively, with the provision of distinguished services for the pilgrims, in accordance with the directives of Dr. Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity.

His comments were stated during the inauguration of the training program for supervisors of the NGO pilgrimage for the 1447 AH/2026 season by Minister Morsi. 

The event was attended by Dr. Nazir Ayad, Grand Mufti of Egypt; Dr. Ali Gomaa, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Foundation for Facilitating Hajj affiliated with the Ministry of Social Solidarity; Ayman Abdel-Mawgoud, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Solidarity; and Dr. Amr El-Wardani, Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives.

From her part, Dr. Maya Morsi announced an increase in the percentage of female supervisors in the Hajj of NGOs this year without reducing the percentage of male supervisors.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that it is exerting tremendous efforts to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season of the current year 2026, corresponding to 1447 AH.

In 2025, about 78,500 Egyptians performed pilgrimage.