Despite economic hardship, Muslims in the Mena region are determined to attend the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam. Every year, the Saudi government dedicates a specific number of visas to countries worldwide for Muslims to fulfil this pilgrimage. However, the prices for Hajj packages have risen astronomically for Egyptians due to record-high inflation and a 50 per cent drop in the value of the Egyptian pound since last year.
This year, prices for economy and luxury Hajj packages have risen by 30 per cent to 40 per cent, with the cheapest package costing about $4,000. Some of the luxury packages for the 2023 pilgrimage cost as much as $95,000. Most of the fees paid by Egyptian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are in riyals, and the depreciation in the value of the Egyptian pound over the past year has made the pilgrimage much more expensive.
Despite the economic woes, many Egyptians are still adamant to attend, while others are saving money by not going. In fact, entrants to the government-run raffles offering Hajj packages at below-market prices doubled in comparison to last year.
Economic pressures in Jordan added difficulties in performing Hajj. Per capita income in the country was $10,000 a year in 2021, compared to the minimum Hajj cost of $4,500 from Jordan.
About 37,000 Iraqis will perform Hajj this year, according to the Iraq government’s Hajj and Umrah Commission. However, the commission has said that this year’s Hajj season will present significant challenges due to the presence of a large number of elderly among the pilgrims due to the suspension of Hajj for two years.
Despite the challenges, the Muslims in the Mena region remain determined to fulfil their religious obligations. For them, Hajj is a lifelong aspiration that provides them with tranquillity and physiological comfort after years of preparation.
