Hajj 2025: Saudi Arabia opens doors to 10,000 more Indian pilgrims

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj has reopened the Nusuk site to accept an additional 10,000 Indian pilgrims, which is a major step for Indian Muslims hoping to perform the Hajj trip in 2025. This decision comes after India stepped in to stop the cancellation of certain Combined Hajj Group Organisers' (CHGOs') allotted zones after they missed important deadlines for making the required arrangements in Mina.
The Hajj Committee of India was responsible for 70% of the 1,75,025 initial allotment for Indian pilgrims in 2025, while private CHGOs handled the remaining 30%. However, several CHGOs were unable to meet the dates set by the Saudi authorities because of delays in concluding contracts for Mina camps, lodging, and transportation. This error put almost 52,000 Indian pilgrims' participation in jeopardy.
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The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), realising the seriousness of the situation, immediately directed the CHGOs to speed up their procedures. Indian officials worked with their Saudi counterparts to address the problem at the same time. In order to accommodate 10,000 more pilgrims, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj consented to reopen the Nusuk portal.

In anticipation of the pilgrimage, Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, visited Saudi Arabia in January 2025. In order to guarantee smooth arrangements for Indian pilgrims, he engaged in talks with Saudi leaders and took part in the first session of the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition.
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The 2025 Hajj pilgrimage is provisionally scheduled for June 4–9, based on the moon sighting that marks the beginning of Zil-Hajj, the final month of the Islamic calendar. It is expected that pilgrims will depart for Saudi Arabia as early as the end of April.
The Nusuk portal's reopening is a step in the right direction towards welcoming more Indian pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj. The forthcoming pilgrimage is expected to be a spiritually enlightening event for thousands of devotees if Indian and Saudi authorities continue to work together.