A total of 298 Sierra Leonean home-based pilgrims have arrived safely in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, as part of the country’s official Hajj delegation for 2025.
The pilgrims touched down at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the early hours of Thursday, May 29, via Egypt Air. They were warmly welcomed by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Mohammed S. Barrie, and Deputy Ambassador Abdul Aziz Turay, who greeted them with traditional Ajwa Madinah dates.
The group is currently housed at Manazil Al-Falah Hotel, located within walking distance of the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid Nabawi), where they will perform daily prayers and undertake religious visits, including to the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), before making their way to Makkah for the main Hajj rites.
This year, Sierra Leone is sending a total of 2,000 pilgrims from both home and the diaspora to perform Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage scheduled to take place from June 4 to 9, 2025 (corresponding to 8th to 12th Dhul-Hijjah 1446H).
The successful arrival of this group marks another milestone in Sierra Leone’s Hajj operations, which continue to be praised for improved organization and support for pilgrims.
By Hawa Rogers
