As many as 993,000 pilgrims have so far arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The General Directorate of Passports said in its daily statistics that 946,182 pilgrims arrived by air; 43,114 by land; and 3583 by sea, an increase by 22,5% (182,543) pilgrims compared to same period last year. Also, As many as 667,667 pilgrims have so far arrived in Madinah for this year's Hajj season 1438 AH (2017). Madinah-based National Pilgrim-Guides Foundation pointed out in its daily statistics that 474,894 pilgrims have left Madinah, while 192,710 pilgrims remained in it. Furthermore, the last group of Iraqi pilgrims crossed the border via Araar inlet today, bringing the total number of Iraqis coming to perform Hajj this year to 13699 female and male aboard 598 buses. Mahmoud Humaid Eaini, in charge of Iraqi pilgrims coming by land, told SPA while at the entry post that the Iraqi pilgrims were accorded warm welcome and generous hospitality since arriving through this only inlet point. He offered thanks to and appreciation of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for the services it provides for Iraqi pilgrims.
