The Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, who is also the Chairman of the Higher Hajj Committee, has sent a cable to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on occasion of the completion of pilgrims entry through air, land and sea ports. In his cable, the minister informed the Monarch that "the number of pilgrims coming from abroad to perform this year's Hajj is 1,707,814. The number of male pilgrims is 923,006 representing 54% and female 784,808 representing 46%". "The number of pilgrims this year soared by 3% over the previous year, an increase of 50,619. The number of pilgrims this year entering by air is 1,542,082; by land 141,693; and by sea 24,039. The pilgrims represented 181 nationality", the minister said in his cable.
