The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah, has formally declared the preparations for the 2026/1447 Hajj season open, signaled the official start of arrangements and operational readiness for the 2026 Hajj.
The announcement was made during the Labbaitum Awards of Excellence ceremony held in Makkah, an event that mark the conclusion of the 2025/1446H Hajj season while honoring outstanding contributors to the Hajj industry during the 2025 Hajj operation.
The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Chairman and CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Ali, alongside leaders of Hajj missions from numerous participating countries.
In his address, the Minister reassured all stakeholders of the Kingdom’s continued commitment to ensuring a safe, smooth, and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience for the Guests of Allah-Arrahman.
Dr. Al-Rabiah, in his keynote address, reflected on the success of the 2025/1446H Hajj and emphasized the need for continued innovation, early planning, and diligent coordination:
“It pleases me to congratulate you and all the pilgrims that completed this 1446H (2025) Hajj in ease and comfort. We began this season fully aware of the huge responsibility and the weight of tremendous trust we are shouldering. Through meticulous planning and careful implementation and execution, we ensured peace, security, and simplicity in the performance of this noble journey.”
With this declaration, the momentum for the 2026/1447H Hajj has officially begun. Supporting this transition is the release of the Preliminary Arrangements Document for Hajj Affairs’ Offices by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The document empowered Hajj missions globally to commence public announcements and initiate comprehensive preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage season.
This included early engagement with licensed service providers responsible for accommodation, feeding (in both Makkah and Madinah), transportation, and airline operations. Additionally, it authorized full collaboration under the Kingdom’s Foreign Pilgrims’ Service Provider Regulation system, ensuring a streamlined and regulated framework for service delivery.
The Kitamuhu Misk ceremony meaning “its ending is like musk” symbolizes the spiritual beauty, dignity, and completeness of the Hajj. It serves not only as a graceful farewell to the 2025 season but also as a bridge to the future, encouraging all stakeholders to build on lessons learned and enhance preparations for the year ahead.
For the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the occasion represented both a moment of reflection and a renewed commitment to excellence. NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, expressed gratitude for the unwavering dedication of all Nigerian stakeholders who contributed to the success of the 2025 Hajj operation.
“The support and cooperation of our state pilgrims’ boards, licensed tour operators, health professionals, security agencies, aviation partners, and, most especially, the selfless NAHCON staff, have been instrumental. As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with a clear sense of responsibility and determination to raise the bar even higher,” he said.
As Nigeria joins the global Hajj community in transitioning to the next pilgrimage cycle, NAHCON reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the welfare, dignity, and spiritual fulfilment of all intending Nigerian pilgrims.