All Egyptian pilgrims return home within one week amid regional escalation
File- The first group of Egyptian pilgrims of this year, 2023, boarding the plane to Saudi Arabia- press photo
CAIRO – 20 June 2025 – Amid ongoing military escalation in the region between Iran and Israel, all Egyptian pilgrims who traveled through tourism companies for Hajj have safely returned home from Saudi Arabia within a single week.
Samia Sami, Assistant Minister for Tourism Companies and Head of the Official Egyptian Hajj Tourist Mission, stated that the pilgrimage concluded in record time due to the regional situation.
A total of 80 tourist buses, carrying approximately 7,500 pilgrims, departed smoothly from Mecca and Medina and traveled via the Halat Ammar land crossing on the Saudi-Jordanian border, continuing through the Jordanian port of Aqaba and arriving at Egypt's Nuweiba port.
Sami noted that the Central Emergency Operations Room—established by the Hajj mission under ministerial directives—closely monitored all bus movements from Saudi Arabia to Egypt. This was done in full coordination with Saudi, Jordanian, and Egyptian authorities to ensure a safe and organized return.
She emphasized that the success of this expedited operation was made possible through continuous coordination between all relevant agencies across the three countries. As a result, the entire overland pilgrimage concluded without significant delays or congestion.
Sami expressed her deep appreciation to the authorities and agencies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Arab Republic of Egypt. She also extended gratitude to the Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies and Agencies, and to the tourism companies responsible for organizing this year's overland Hajj trips, for their swift response and effective collaboration with the mission.
Regarding pilgrims returning via air travel, Sami confirmed that arrangements are ongoing to facilitate their return on scheduled flights. The final groups are expected to arrive within the coming days, with continued efforts to ensure their comfort and safety throughout the process.
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