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The first batch of 267 home-based Sierra Leonean Hajj pilgrims arrived safely at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Friday afternoon. They joined the first and second batches of 298 diaspora pilgrims who landed in Madinah on Saturday and Monday.
The pilgrims are accommodated at the Kiyan International Hotel and Bara Taiba Hotel, both located a two-minute walk from Masjid Al-Nabawi. The proximity allows them to observe their daily prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque during their two-day stay in Madinah.
The leadership and staff of the Sierra Leone Embassy in Saudi Arabia, together with the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj advance team, gave the pilgrims a warm welcome at the airport. The reception featured fresh Saudi dates and the traditional Islamic song _Tala‘a al-Badru ‘Alayna_, sung to welcome Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) upon his migration to Madinah.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mohammed Barrie, expressed delight at receiving the pilgrims. “The Deputy Ambassador, Abdul Aziz Turay, key Embassy staff, and I are here to give our fullest support to the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj to ensure our pilgrims have a successful 2026 Hajj,” he said. “This fulfils the mandate given to us by H.E. President Dr. Julius Maada Bio.”
Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, Alhaji Murtada Sesay, was among the first batch of home-based pilgrims who departed Freetown in the early hours of Friday.
Speaking to this writer, he said, “I provided the requisite leadership to ensure pilgrims on the flight went through all necessary check-in and arrival procedures. We paid special attention to first-time travelers to prevent luggage issues and ensure no one was left unattended.”
Alhaji Sesay added that the second batch of home-based pilgrims would depart Freetown on 16th May, led by Deputy Chairman Ambassador Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh, while the third and final batch departs on 18th May, led by Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Alhaji Mohamed Haji-Kella.
Presidential Adviser to State House and former Minister of Health and Tertiary Education, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, is also among the first batch of home-based pilgrims performing this year’s Hajj. Speaking to this writer, Prof. Wurie said he is very excited and feels fulfilled to perform Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.
The pilgrims will rest on Saturday, perform Ziyarah on Sunday, and travel by bus to Makkah on Monday for Umrah and the Hajj rites, which commence on Monday, 25th May 2026 (8th Dhul-Hijjah 1447).
Meanwhile, 45 Sierra Leonean diaspora pilgrims from The Gambia landed safely in Madinah at 17:05 KSA time.
A total of 2,626 Sierra Leonean pilgrims are expected to perform this year’s Hajj: 826 home-based pilgrims traveling from Sierra Leone and 1,800 from the diaspora. Pilgrims from the USA, UK, Canada, Europe, and Australia will arrive in Madinah in different batches under the Sierra Leone contingent.
