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Uzbekistan sets 2026 Hajj quota at 15,000, cost exceeds $6,000

Uzbekistan has allocated 15,000 quotas for the Hajj pilgrimage in 2026, keeping the figure unchanged from recent years, while the cost per pilgrim has been set at UZS 77.07mn (over $6,000), according to the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan.

The 2026 Hajj season will begin on May 2, with daily flights to Medina. Pilgrims will depart directly from nine cities across the country — Tashkent, Namangan, Fergana, Andijan, Samarkand, Bukhara, Qarshi, Termiz, and Urgench.

Outbound flights will be operated by Saudi Arabia’s Flyadeal, while return flights will be handled by Uzbekistan Airways.

The quota for Uzbek pilgrims has remained stable at 15,000 since 2023. However, the cost of the pilgrimage has risen noticeably over time. In 2019, a Hajj trip cost around UZS 33.3mn ($3,879), but by 2022 it had nearly doubled to UZS 62.9mn ($5,744).

Prices continued to increase in the following years, reaching UZS 68.76mn (around $6,000) in 2023, UZS 73.97mn (about $5,813) in 2024, and UZS 78.67mn (over $6,000) in 2025. Although the 2026 price reflects a slight decrease compared to last year, it remains substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Uzbek citizens continue to pay some of the highest prices for Hajj among Central Asian countries. Comparative assessments show that pilgrimage costs in Uzbekistan exceed those in several neighboring states, reflecting differences in service structure, logistics, and overall package composition.

Earlier, Uzbekistan introduced mandatory online registration for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims through a unified portal to streamline application, medical checks, and travel arrangements.

It should be noted that, recently, Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended online tourist visa services for Uzbek citizens during the 2025 Hajj season, requiring applications through embassies or authorized centers.

Today, 20:03

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