The Hajj

The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the most integral parts of the Islamic faith. It is a once-in-a-lifetime rite of passage for most of the world’s 1.7 billion Muslims. At the same time, it is Saudi Arabia’s second most important economic motor after the oil industry. Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, only around a thousand pilgrims will be permitted to attend this year’s Hajj, compared to more than 2.5 million last year.