Ministry of Tourism and Heritage Egypt celebrated the first return flights of the wild tourist pilgrims from the Holy Lands to Egypt with 4 buses carrying 123 pilgrims, the Port of Aqaba in the Hashemia Kingdom of Jordan, on their way to the Port of Nobeey in the Arab Republic of Egypt, after leaving from the Holy Lands, after the pilgrims had finished performing the pilgrimage preparations for this season. On her part, Samiia Sami, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Archaeological Affairs for Tourism Companies, Head of the Egyptian Tourist Hajj Affairs Office, and Chairman of the High Committee for Umrah and Hajj, explained that the first trips included 4 tourist buses carrying 123 pilgrims, coming from Mecca. She added that the return plan includes all tourist pilgrims coming abroad with a total of 5,700 pilgrims, more than 130 tour buses, indicating that the last return armies are scheduled to arrive in Egypt on 8 June 2026. She added that the Ministry is following up on the implementation of the return plan around the clock through its field committees in Mecca, Medina, and the implementation of the Amar Al-Bari case on the Saudi-Jordanian border, as well as the ports of Al-Aqaba in Jordan and Nouiba in Egypt. Bus movement is also monitored through an Electronic Tracking System (GPS), which allows to monitor bus locations, speeds and routes instantly through the Tourist Vehicle Tracking Operations Room.
He confirmed that these efforts are being carried out in full coordination with the stakeholders in both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Hashemia of Jordan, to ensure the speedy completion of procedures and the highest levels of comfort and safety for the tourist pilgrims during their return home journey, praising the level of cooperation and coordination witnessed by different phases of the season.
She also praised the commitment of organized tourism companies to the Wild Hajj programs, stressing that early preparation and good planning contribute to the success of the season, whether at the organization level or the quality of services provided to the pilgrims.
Dr Shehara Rizly Fernando manages Middle East content, bringing over three decades of experience across print, broadcast, and digital journalism in Asia and the Middle East region. Beginning as a broadcast journalist, she transitioned into print and digital platforms, covering news, travel, tourism and destinations, hotel development, and aviation. She is also a strong advocate for women in the industry, consistently championing their growth and empowerment throughout her career.
