Hajj from Senegal: how the national system works
Senegalese get Hajj places through Délégation Générale au Pèlerinage aux Lieux Saints de l'Islam (General Delegation for the Pilgrimage), against a quota of 12,800. Registration, timeline, costs, health documents, embassy and flights, checked against official and national sources.
How Hajj registration works in Senegal
Senegal's national Hajj commission (commonly referred to by acronyms such as CONAHAJ) coordinates the government-organized package under the Ministry of Interior, alongside private licensed travel agencies that handle a separate share of the national quota. Citizens register during an announced window through the commission's offices or a licensed private agency; the commission publishes the year's package price, registration dates and payment schedule, and organizes group travel, visas and in-country logistics for the government portion of pilgrims. Private agency packages tend to cost more but offer more flexibility on hotel choice, flight timing and travel dates, and don't depend on the government allocation being sufficient for demand.
Pre-registration for Hajj 2026 opened on 1 October 2025 on the Delegation's eHaj platform, followed by a mandatory medical examination from mid-January. Senegal filled its full quota for the first time in 2026 with 12,860 pilgrims on 25 flights, and joined the Makkah Route initiative, so Saudi immigration formalities were completed in Dakar before departure.
Step by step
- Register with Délégation Générale au Pèlerinage aux Lieux Saints de l'Islam 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 Délégation Générale au Pèlerinage aux Lieux Saints de l'Islam (General Delegation for the Pilgrimage); 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 Senegal
Senegal's Hajj commission publishes an official package price each year in CFA francs; private-agency packages cost more depending on hotel tier. We don't quote a fixed figure here since it's reset annually, check the commission's current announcement or our calculator. 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 Senegal, and whether meals and internal transport are bundled. See Hajj budgeting and shifting versus non-shifting packages.
Umrah from Senegal while you wait
Senegal is not on the Saudi eVisa list, so Senegalese pilgrims apply through a licensed Umrah agency with a Nusuk booking. The Saudi Ministry of Health lists Senegal among countries that must present a meningococcal vaccination certificate and among yellow fever countries, and advises a polio dose.
Full visa guide for Senegalese →
Vaccines and health documents for Hajj and Umrah from Senegal
These are the Saudi Ministry of Health requirements for Umrah travellers in the 1447 H (2026) edition, read for Senegal 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 Senegal |
|---|---|
| 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. Travellers from Senegal must carry a certificate that names the vaccine and the date; if the type is missing it is treated as valid for 3 years only. |
| Polio | Recommended, not required: the Ministry advises one dose of IPV (or a type 2 containing OPV) for travellers from Senegal. |
| Yellow fever | Required. Senegal is on the yellow fever list: everyone older than 9 months must hold a yellow fever certificate, which is valid for life from 10 days after vaccination. |
| 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 Senegal
The Saudi Embassy in Senegal is in Dakar. 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 Senegal
Saudia's published network does not include a passenger route from Senegal, so most pilgrims connect once through a Gulf, Turkish, European or regional hub, or travel on a national or charter carrier arranged for the Hajj season. Book the arrival airport that matches your itinerary: Jeddah if you start in Makkah, Madinah if you start there.
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. Senegal 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
- Register through the official Hajj commission or a licensed private agency, not an informal broker
- Confirm payment installment deadlines with the commission to keep your place
- Compare government vs. private-agency packages for hotel distance and price
- Complete required medical and vaccination checks ahead of the deadline
- Ask your agency for its official licensing reference before paying
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 Senegalese register for Hajj on Nusuk directly?
No. Senegal is not on the Nusuk direct list; Hajj places come through Délégation Générale au Pèlerinage aux Lieux Saints de l'Islam (General Delegation for the Pilgrimage).
What is Senegal's Hajj quota?
12,800 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 Senegal?
Senegal's Hajj commission publishes an official package price each year in CFA francs; private-agency packages cost more depending on hotel tier. We don't quote a fixed figure here since it's reset annually, check the commission's current announcement or our calculator. 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. Use the cost calculator for a planning range.
Which vaccines do Senegalese need for Hajj?
Meningococcal ACYW and yellow fever. The health table on this page gives the Saudi Ministry of Health rule for Senegal; the Hajj circular is issued separately each season.
Can Senegalese do Umrah while waiting?
Yes, through a licensed Umrah operator with a Nusuk booking; Umrah has no quota.
Sources
- https://www.ehaj.org/en/
- https://www.seneweb.com/en/news/Religion/hajj-2026-tariq-maka-regional-hubs-innovations-to-support-a-record-quota_n_492010.html
- https://seneweb.com/en/news/Religion/hajj-2026-la-date-de-demarrage-des-preinscriptions-connue_n_468313.html
- https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/HealthAwareness/Pilgrims-Health/Documents/Health-Regulations-Umrah-EN.pdf
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/hajj-quota-by-country
- https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2637600
- https://hajj.nusuk.sa/ServicedCountries
- https://haj.gov.sa/en/FAQ
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_Saudi_Arabia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Saudia_destinations