All 900 slots for Singaporeans for 2026 haj pilgrimage filled; more places for elderly

SINGAPORE - All 900 haj slots for Muslim pilgrims in Singapore for 2026 have been filled, with more people aged 70 and older among the group set to travel compared with 2025.

In a statement on Dec 29, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said it has successfully allocated all slots granted for Singaporeans, and that confirmed pilgrims have already purchased their haj packages from MUIS-authorised travel agents.

It also said that 12 per cent of the confirmed pilgrims are aged 70 and above, compared with 5 per cent in 2025, when Singapore also had 900 slots.

MUIS said it gave priority consideration to those eligible in the age group to better support senior applicants, and will “continue to review and adjust this approach as needed for future allocation exercises”.

All successful applicants have obtained valid medical health certificates confirming that they are medically fit, free from any disqualifying chronic medical conditions, and are physically capable of performing haj rituals safely, MUIS added. This is in line with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s

new health requirements

.

The haj is the major Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and represents the fifth pillar of Islam. Muslims must undertake the journey at least once if they are physically and financially able to.

It is performed over about a week only once a year, during Zulhijjah – the 12th month of the Islamic calendar – and involves intense rituals such as circumambulating the Kaaba, running between hills, and stoning pillars.

The Kaaba is a cubic structure draped in black cloth situated at the centre of Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca that serves as the qibla, or direction that Muslims face when performing solah, or prayer.

Over the last 20 years – aside from 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic – about two million Muslims from around the world performed the haj each year, with a record 3.16 million making the journey in 2012.

Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, said the successful allocation of slots reflects the collective commitment to ensure a fair, transparent and compassionate process for Singaporean pilgrims.

“MUIS will continue to work closely with our partners and the Saudi authorities to ensure that our pilgrims are well prepared financially, physically, mentally and spiritually for this sacred journey, as we strive to fulfil our community’s aspirations,” he added.

Applicants who did not receive an offer in this allocation exercise will remain on the waiting list until March 20, which is the closing date for the haj visa processing. Any slots that become available before the closing date will be filled by the next eligible applicant on the waiting list.

Those who do not hear from MUIS via the MyHajSG portal after March 20 can assume that there are no more available slots for the haj.

There are about 65,000 people currently in line.

MUIS said it understands the aspirations of applicants waiting to perform the haj, and that it will continue to explore solutions to address this.

On Jan 13, then Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli

said 900 slots were granted to Singapore

after a meeting with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah in Jeddah.

He said Singapore had asked for additional slots and that the Saudi authorities had said they will consider this.