Sierra Leone is set to send 2,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 1446 AH/2025 Hajj, as the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites announces its readiness for this year’s pilgrimage.
According to a report by Abubakarr Bah, Sierra Leone’s Information Attaché in Saudi Arabia, the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, chaired by Alhaji Murtada Sesay, is coordinating national preparations to ensure a smooth and safe experience for pilgrims. The Hajj is scheduled to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, corresponding to the 8th to 12th of Dhul-Hijjah.
Chairman Sesay confirmed that 600 of the pilgrims will travel from within Sierra Leone, while 1,400 will come from the diaspora. Among them, 100 pilgrims, recipients of the Saudi Royal Hajj scholarship, are scheduled to depart Freetown on May 30.
The first group of diaspora pilgrims, consisting of 78 individuals, is expected to arrive in Madinah on May 19. Meanwhile, two groups of 300 Sierra Leone-based pilgrims will depart Freetown International Airport on May 28 and 29 via Egypt Air. Additional diaspora pilgrims are expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia in phases.
Medical screenings are nearly complete, with 95% of pilgrims already examined. The screening process will remain open until May 19. A dedicated medical team, including three doctors, three nurses, and one pharmacist, will accompany the pilgrims to provide health support throughout the pilgrimage.
