The countdown to the 2027 Hajj has begun. At a press conference held on August 6, 2026, at the Mame Ansou Niang Mosque, the National Association of Private Organizers for Hajj and Umrah in Senegal (RENOPHUS) presented the major changes that will impact the organization of the 2027 pilgrimage. This shift was imposed by Saudi Arabia to put an end to delays and last-minute improvisation.
Riyadh now imposes a rigorous agenda to oversee the largest annual organization of the Muslim community, which brings together more than 3 million pilgrims out of the 2.7 billion followers worldwide.
The break is clear and concerns all stages. According to Cheikh Bamba Dioum, interim president of RENOPHUS, it is no longer a question of waiting for the month of Ramadan or the end of the harvests to launch registrations, because the police stations, the general delegations and the private agencies will no longer be able to show up in Saudi Arabia at the last minute to sign the accommodation contracts.
Even air transport is affected. RENOPHUS denounces the reliance on administrative delays in certain countries that contract with airlines late, risking pilgrims landing on dates that do not correspond to the commitments made.
For Senegal, this new situation requires full planning starting in 2026. RENOPHUS also demands that Air Senegal transport 50% of the pilgrims, in accordance with the resolutions of the major Hajj consultations held on July 2nd, and that the remainder be allocated to regular airlines.
RENOPHUS is also calling on the Islamic Bank, the official bank of the pilgrimage, to ensure the pre-financing of all required payments.
The General Delegation for Pilgrimage is also requested to start medical visits and operations at the Pilgrims’ Hangar from the second half of November, in order to avoid the delay of 2026 where the closing date was set for February 8 while the examinations had only started on January 6.
For the 2027 Hajj, Saudi Arabia has set three firm dates. Mr. Dioum reminds everyone that December 24, 2026, is the deadline for paying all pilgrimage fees. January 28, 2027, is the last day to register on the official Saudi portal, and no visas will be issued after March 9, 2027.
In the meantime, the selection of camps in Mina and Arafat and the choice of service providers must be finalized. According to the association of private tour operators, to offer thousands of pilgrims a peaceful Hajj experience, Senegal (both public and private) must immediately adopt this new approach of high standards and rigor imposed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
