Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Sign Agreement for Hajj 2026 Arrangements

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have officially signed an agreement to finalize the arrangements and facilities for Hajj 2026. The agreement was signed in Jeddah by Saudi Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat, and Pakistan’s Secretary for Religious Affairs, Dr. Syed Ata-ur-Rehman.

In his statement, Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for its ongoing commitment to providing top-quality services and facilities for pilgrims. He emphasized that, as in previous years, Pakistani pilgrims would receive excellent services during Hajj 2026.

Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman also assured that the Ministry of Religious Affairs would ensure the timely and effective organization of Hajj arrangements, adhering to Saudi government guidelines. He highlighted the revised quota system for the upcoming Hajj season, which now allocates 70 percent of the quota to the government scheme and 30 percent to private Hajj tour operators.

The new Hajj policy comes after the mismanagement of the 2025 Hajj, where over 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims were unable to perform the pilgrimage due to logistical issues. With the revised policy, the government aims to improve transparency, oversight, and accessibility for those opting for the government scheme.

Additionally, the Saudi Riyal (SAR) remains stable at Rs74.88 against the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) in the open market, reflecting steady remittance inflows and balanced market conditions, which continue to support the Saudi Riyal’s importance in Pakistan’s economy.