Kuwait International Airport welcomed Kuwaiti pilgrims returning from hajj on Wednesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is working at full capacity to assist their return in coordination with Kuwaiti hajj campaigns. The DGCA announced that there would be 38 flights bringing back pilgrims from Saudi Arabia over three days, starting from June 19.

Pilgrims completed hajj on Tuesday in the summer heat, finishing with the third day of the symbolic stoning of the devil and the final circumambulation around the Kaaba in Makkah. The stoning ritual in Mina symbolizes casting away evil and sin. Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, commemorates the stories of Prophet Ibrahim, his son Prophet Ismail, Ismail’s mother Hajar, and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Over 1.83 million Muslims performed hajj in 2024, including more than 1.6 million pilgrims from 22 countries and around 222,000 Saudi citizens and residents, according to Saudi Hajj authorities.