Hajj from Egypt · checked 2026-09-19

Hajj from Egypt: how the national system works

Egyptians get Hajj places through Three national channels: the Ministry of Interior lottery, the Ministry of Social Solidarity lottery, and Ministry of Tourism packages sold by licensed tourism companies, against a quota of 35,375. Registration, timeline, costs, health documents, embassy and flights, checked against official and national sources.

How Hajj registration works Estimate the cost

2026 quota35,375 pilgrims

Responsible authorityThree national channels: the Ministry of Interior lottery, the Ministry of Social Solidarity lottery, and Ministry of Tourism packages sold by licensed tourism companies

RouteNational quota system

Hajj 1448 (approx.)Mid-May 2027

Vaccination documentsMeningococcal ACYW

Saudi missionsCairo, Alexandria and Suez

Saudia nonstop fromCairo, Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh

Umrah visa routeLicensed Umrah operator files it

How Hajj registration works in Egypt

Egypt's quota is divided between a government package coordinated with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' Hajj Mission and private packages sold by licensed tourism companies. Government-package applicants apply during an announced window, often through electronic banking channels, and when demand exceeds the allocation a lottery or first-come basis is used depending on the year's rules; the Ministry has also allocated a portion of seats through Nasser Social Bank for lower-cost access. Private packages, booked with a licensed agent, cost more but offer flexibility on hotel tier and are not subject to the same ballot. The Ministry publishes package prices, registration dates and payment installments before each season, and applicants should watch official channels closely since dates can shift. Keep copies of every registration receipt and payment confirmation, since these are typically what's required to resolve disputes or confirm a place if paperwork is questioned later.

Egypt allocates its quota through three separate systems and you may enter only one each season. For 2026 the Interior Ministry accepted applications from 12 to 28 October, the Social Solidarity lottery selected 12,000 pilgrims, and the Tourism Ministry offered graded packages, from economic categories to tented and five-star tower programmes, through licensed companies. Prices are published each season in Egyptian pounds; check the current year's figures before budgeting.

Step by step

Register with Three national channels: the Ministry of Interior lottery during its announced window; most countries open registration many months before Hajj and some run multi-year queues.
If applications exceed the quota, wait for the lottery or queue result; keep your registration current each year if the system requires renewal.
Choose between the government package and a licensed private operator's package where both exist, and pay only through the channels the authority names.
Complete the medical examination and vaccinations in time for the visa file; the national mission submits your details to the Saudi Ministry and receives your visa and Nusuk card.
Attend the pre-departure training and travel with your group on the scheduled flights.

Typical timeline

When	What happens
12 months or more before Hajj	Registration window at Three national channels: the Ministry of Interior lottery, the Ministry of Social Solidarity lottery, and Ministry of Tourism packages sold by licensed tourism companies; some countries run queues measured in years.
9 to 6 months before	Lottery or queue results; payment deadline; choice of government or licensed private package where both exist.
5 to 2 months before	Medical examination, vaccinations, passport submission; the national mission files visas with the Saudi Ministry.
Dhul Hijjah	Group flights on the mission schedule; Makkah Route countries clear Saudi immigration before departure.

Illustrative order of events; the authority publishes exact dates each season and they move with the Hijri calendar.

What it costs from Egypt

Egypt publishes an official government package price each year in Egyptian pounds, alongside a range of private-agency package prices that vary by hotel distance and service tier; recent years have seen sharp increases tied to currency devaluation. We don't quote a fixed figure here, check the Ministry's current announcement or our calculator, since the pound-denominated cost has moved substantially year to year. Rather than guess, compare current licensed operators' published price lists side by side, since the main cost drivers, hotel distance from the Haram, flight class, and group size, vary more between operators than between years.

The drivers are the same everywhere: camp category in Mina, hotel distance from the Haram in Makkah and Madinah, room sharing, flights from Egypt, and whether meals and internal transport are bundled. See Hajj budgeting and shifting versus non-shifting packages.

Umrah from Egypt while you wait

Egypt is not on the Saudi eVisa list (the March 2026 Saudi-Egypt visa exemption covers diplomatic, special and service passports only), so Egyptians apply through a licensed Umrah company with a Nusuk booking. Saudia flies nonstop from Cairo, Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh, with seasonal flights from El Alamein and Hurghada. The Saudi Ministry of Health advises (does not require) a polio dose for travellers from Egypt.

Full visa guide for Egyptians →

Vaccines and health documents for Hajj and Umrah from Egypt

These are the Saudi Ministry of Health requirements for Umrah travellers in the 1447 H (2026) edition, read for Egypt specifically. The Hajj list is issued separately each season and is normally the same or stricter. Certificates are checked at the airport of departure and on arrival.

Requirement	What applies to travellers from Egypt
Meningococcal (ACYW) vaccine	Required for every pilgrim from every country: conjugate vaccine within 5 years, or polysaccharide within 3 years, given at least 10 days before arrival.
Polio	Recommended, not required: the Ministry advises one dose of IPV (or a type 2 containing OPV) for travellers from Egypt.
Yellow fever	Not required for travellers arriving from Egypt. It applies only if you arrive from a listed yellow fever country.
COVID-19	Required only for higher-risk groups (over 65, pregnant, chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, blood disorders, immunodeficiency, cancer, chronic neurological disease): an updated 2025-2026 dose, a completed 2021-2024 primary series, or confirmed infection in 2025.
Recommended	Seasonal influenza vaccine; routine immunisations up to date; carry medication in original packaging with a doctor's note.

Source: Saudi Ministry of Health, Health Requirements for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, 1447H. The 1448 H edition may move countries between lists; check the MoH page before you vaccinate.

Saudi embassy and consulates in Egypt

The Saudi Embassy in Egypt is in Cairo, with consular posts in Alexandria (Consulate-General) and Suez (Consulate-General). Umrah visas are filed electronically by your licensed operator, so most pilgrims never visit. The embassy matters for document attestation, family-visit visas and problems with an application. Opening hours and services are on each mission's page at mofa.gov.sa.

Flying to Jeddah or Madinah from Egypt

Saudia lists scheduled passenger flights from Cairo, Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh, plus seasonal or pilgrimage-season flights from El Alamein and Hurghada. Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International) is the gateway for Makkah; Madinah (Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International) suits pilgrims starting in Madinah. Gulf carriers, flynas, flyadeal and national airlines also serve these markets, often at lower fares with one stop.

Route list compiled from Saudia's published destinations on 2026-09-19; schedules change by season.

Mistakes to avoid

Registering through a sub-agent who is not on the national authority's approved list.
Missing the payment deadline after selection; unpaid places are reallocated and several countries report thousands of missed visas each year.
Expecting to book Hajj on Nusuk directly. Egypt is not on the Nusuk serviced-countries list, so the national mission is the only route.
Leaving the medical file and vaccinations to the last month.

Practical tips

Apply only through the Ministry's official channels or a company licensed for Hajj by the Ministry of Tourism
Ask whether your package routes through Nasser Social Bank's lower-cost allocation if eligible
Confirm hotel zone and distance to the Haramain before paying the balance
Expect year-to-year price swings tied to the pound's exchange rate, book early in the announced window
Complete the mandatory medical and vaccination requirements ahead of the deadline

Prepare properly

How to perform Hajj, step by step
Health and fitness preparation
How Hajj quotas work
Install the offline companion with the guided days of Hajj and duas

Questions pilgrims ask

Can Egyptians register for Hajj on Nusuk directly?

No. Egypt is not on the Nusuk direct list; Hajj places come through Three national channels: the Ministry of Interior lottery, the Ministry of Social Solidarity lottery, and Ministry of Tourism packages sold by licensed tourism companies.

What is Egypt's Hajj quota?

35,375 for 2026 according to the sources on this page. Quotas are agreed with Saudi Arabia each year and can change.

How much does Hajj cost from Egypt?

Which vaccines do Egyptians need for Hajj?

Meningococcal ACYW. The health table on this page gives the Saudi Ministry of Health rule for Egypt; the Hajj circular is issued separately each season.

Can Egyptians do Umrah while waiting?

Yes, through a licensed Umrah operator with a Nusuk booking; Umrah has no quota.

Confirm before you pay. Checked on 2026-09-19 against the sources below. Quotas, dates, fees and vaccination lists change every season: confirm with Three national channels: the Ministry of Interior lottery, the Ministry of Social Solidarity lottery, and Ministry of Tourism packages sold by licensed tourism companies, Nusuk Hajj and the Saudi embassy before booking. Spotted an error? Tell us.