Jeddah: Pilgrims are flocking to Mecca in Saudi Arabia as the Hajj is set to commence this week, marking the return of the annual pilgrimage on a grand scale.

According to Saudi authorities, over 1.5 million foreign pilgrims had arrived in the country by Tuesday, mainly via air travel from various parts of the globe.

More arrivals are anticipated, and thousands of Saudi residents and expatriates in Saudi Arabia anticipated to participate once the pilgrimage officially commences on Friday.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia project a larger number of pilgrims this year compared to 2023, when over 1.8 million individuals partook in the Hajj, nearing pre-pandemic levels. More than 2.4 million pilgrims performed Hajj in the year 2019.