Tears, Prayers, and Pride: Algeria Welcomes Home the First Pilgrims of Hajj 2025

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

A Seamless Operation Meets a Spiritual Homecoming as the First Algerian Pilgrims Return from the Holy Sites of Islam

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Algiers, Algeria | June 10th, 2025 —  At Algiers’ Houari Boumediene International Airport, a moving tapestry of devotion and national pride unfolded on Tuesday afternoon as the first contingent of Algerian pilgrims returned from the 2025/1446H Hajj. Marked by tears, jubilation, and profound spirituality, the arrival of the 380 pilgrims transformed the terminal into a scene of sacred emotion and collective joy.

This symbolic homecoming began at precisely 1:30 p.m., when the glass doors of the Hajj terminal’s international arrivals hall parted to reveal the first pilgrim clad in the white ihram. A piercing ululation shattered the silence, instantly igniting a flood of tears and embraces. Families, some waiting since early morning, greeted their loved ones with youyous, kisses, and prayers, marking the culmination of a journey both arduous and spiritually fulfilling.

Yet behind the scenes, this moment was the result of a meticulously orchestrated logistical effort. The Algerian state, in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Office of National Pilgrimage and Umrah (ONPO), and other agencies, had prepared a highly coordinated reception plan. White tents were installed to shield waiting families from the sun, snacks and water were distributed, and Red Crescent volunteers in signature vests handed out roses while offering emotional and physical support.

One of the most striking gestures was the installation of a symbolic replica of the Kaaba at the entrance of the Hajj terminal. Majestic and black, the miniature structure offered pilgrims a final moment of spiritual reflection. Some touched it with trembling hands, whispering invocations with teary eyes, prolonging their connection to the Holy Sites in Mecca and Medina.

Mohamed Zeghdani, Deputy Director of Information at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, praised the reception efforts, emphasizing that two more flights were scheduled for later in the day. He underscored the Algerian state’s commitment to ensuring that all pilgrims were able to fulfill their religious duty in dignified and comfortable conditions.

The Saudi Airlines flight SV 3333 from Jeddah carried not only the physical return of the pilgrims but also their inner transformation. “I prayed for Algeria, for my children… I gave everything. Now, I can die in peace,” murmured Abdelkader, 72, from Bordj Bou Arréridj, descending the plane’s steps supported by his son.

Rachida, 38, waited nearly two hours to embrace her mother: “She spent ten years saving for this. She left a grandmother; she returned as if reborn. She’s glowing.” Scenes of unfiltered emotion played out across the arrival terminal: invocations by Tuareg pilgrims in indigo blue turbans, answered by women’s joyful ululations; children dancing; elders praying; and one man boldly reciting the concluding verses of Surah Al-Baqara aloud. For a moment, the airport was not merely a port of entry—it was a mosque, a sanctuary, a national space of communion.

According to Azizou Abdesselem, Director of Administration and Logistics at ONPO, more than 1,000 pilgrims were expected to return on that day alone, across three flights. Between now and July 3, Algeria will welcome home 41,300 pilgrims via 77 return flights. Air Algérie alone has allocated 19,000 seats for the return operation. “We have worked tirelessly to maintain a steady but well-controlled pace,” affirmed Hamza Benhamouda, CEO of Air Algérie.

Every logistical detail was calibrated. Sanitation facilities, shaded waiting areas, and dedicated parking ensured crowd management. Each suitcase was tagged with its wilaya of origin to expedite distribution. The Border Police and Algerian Customs processed the returning pilgrims in less than ten minutes per individual. “These people are often elderly, often exhausted. We’ve done everything to uphold their dignity from the moment they land,” stated a customs officer.

The airport’s management company (EGSA) had implemented a reinforced coordination plan. “Each flight is preceded by a full briefing with all actors involved—security, customs, Red Crescent, paramedics—and followed by a debrief to address any issues,” explained EGSA Director Mokhtar Saïd Mediouni.

But above all the logistical prowess, it was the raw, shared humanity that dominated the scene. From Kabylie to Tamanrasset, from Constantine to Adrar, Algeria’s diverse cultural and linguistic heritage converged in an intimate act of national unity. Dialects and traditional clothing intermingled; Zamzam water was poured alongside offerings of dates and milk. The scent of musk mingled with rose water, the spirit of Hajj still lingering.

As buses began to depart for distant wilayas, a ground agent looked on, visibly moved: “This is more than a return—it’s a rebirth. They are not the same as when they left. They are silent messengers.” Though the terminal slowly emptied, the echoes of Qur’anic recitations, tears, and whispered prayers clung to the air.

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