The first batch of Gambian pilgrims will leave Banjul on Saturday July 27 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

A total of 1,700 Gambian pilgrims will make this year’s Hajj, according to The Gambia’s National Hajj Commission.

According to the Hajj Commission, 20 officials and guides will be travelling with the pilgrims to help them with the Hajj rituals.

The Hajj Commission urged pilgrims to comply with all directives from the Commission to ensure that they have successful Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The travel operators that are entrusted with flying the pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia are the Gambia International Airlines (GIA), Orbit Travel Agency, Banjul Travel Agency, Tivaouane Travel & Tours, Travel Express Agency, Jambo Travel & Tours, and Amana Travel & Tours.

Meanwhile the Hajj Commission has clarified that there have been issues with the involvement of Gambian student volunteers in Saudi who come each year to help Gambian pilgrims on voluntary basis.

“The capacity given to the Gambia is 1700 pilgrims and if we want to go beyond that, it creates problems for our pilgrims because there are procedures governing hajj guides,” Foday Sambou Ceesay, the Commission secretary.