More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in Mecca, Saudia Arabia ahead of the start of the Hajj later this week.

According to an AP News report, more are expected and hundreds of thousands from within Saudi Arabia will join when the pilgrimage begins on Friday.

of Saudis and others living in Saudi Arabia will also join them when the pilgrimage officially begins on Friday.

Saudi officials expect the number to exceed 2023 where more than 1.8 pilgrims performed Hajj, approaching pre-pandemic levels.