Qatar Receives Over 12,000 Hajj Applications for 2027 Pilgrimage
By Auwal Umar
More than 12,000 citizens and residents of Qatar have applied to perform the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage, despite the country’s approved quota being limited to 4,400 pilgrims for the 2027 season.
The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, through its Department of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, disclosed this on Thursday following the closure of registration on its official electronic portal on 20 October 2026.
In a statement, the ministry said the screening and approval of applications would begin next Tuesday, in line with the regulations governing the pilgrimage.
It added that successful applicants would receive electronic approval notifications directly through short message service (SMS) once the verification process had been completed.
The ministry said the selection process would follow established criteria designed to ensure fairness, transparency and the proper distribution of Qatar’s allocated Hajj slots.
With the country’s quota fixed at 4,400 pilgrims, the number of applications received significantly exceeds the available places.
According to the ministry, concluding the selection exercise early would give accredited Qatari Hajj service providers sufficient time to complete logistical and administrative arrangements ahead of the pilgrimage.
The preparations, it said, are aimed at ensuring that pilgrims travelling from Qatar receive efficient and quality services throughout the Hajj exercise.
The ministry also attributed the strong response to public confidence in its digital registration system, noting that improvements to the electronic platform had made the application process more convenient.
The platform allows applicants to register, select service providers and complete contractual arrangements through a unified online system.
The ministry said the digital reforms align with its Strategy for 2025–2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly their objectives of advancing digital transformation, improving public services and strengthening institutional performance.
The announcement was reported by the Qatar News Agency (QNA).
