![Pakistan pilgrims complete their travel documents at Hajj Complex in preparation to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 185,000 Pakistanis will be performing the pilgrimage this year. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2EJT35SUJSHWDVDA4WEOUGT5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=ade962765932bff6d7fdb89cead31a0323f4cc7277fec81f2d9ab1c3c639e5b7&width=400&height=225)
![Muslim pilgrims pass around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah on September 3 during last year's annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RMMCE36DULDCFYPMSYXYQXIPRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3c67f3519735568ca7c8e97f266508583e4098dad318a7fe3b2005e1d2723afd&width=400&height=225)
![An Iraqi pilgrim shows his passport and ticket to Mecca as he wait for his flight at the airport in Najaf on July 31, 2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP / Haidar Hamdani](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7IQYHXPRKPUTSN6WWGIWOXTUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4875ff07691b3ce85386f7a5c63dab3ce866b3825d6d9b1fac176f71790b1e3&width=400&height=225)
![An Iraqi pilgrim shows his passport and ticket to Mecca as he waits for his flight at the airport in Najaf in southern-central Iraq on July 31, 2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FVSNA3YFNTSHYO7FRYEJNOLTM.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc7d2f9b30a7ef460d32cb061b1969162b2dd7cd1a645b341394b88b12bfc7f8&width=400&height=225)
![An Iraqi pilgrim arrives at the airport in Najaf on July 31, 2018, before his flight to go attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PLSLVMJFRRVSVMETXOZCTMWYRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=83201259debaa954b5ca1b2bb89d9e628ce570ef8000c6e84540acda6308e3fe&width=400&height=225)
![Relatives wait for the Hajj pilgrims to take off for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah at the airport in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QMLON6VRZFSXBJNZS7INIWAUGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2aef316f66a3d2f191b119e20d1404ed5075e45295308c40e0b1635683be0dad&width=400&height=225)
![Hajj pilgrims take a selfie before leaving for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, at the airport in Ahmedabad, India, August 1, 2018. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GZAT4NSLRWD25RNNCVI6INWSDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fb7f073f93e3319723f782aeb9be9f968168df40435062aa3d725fa35f563cd&width=400&height=225)
![Indian relatives wave as Hajj pilgrims board an Airbus A330 flight bound for Saudi Arabia, at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on August 1, 2018. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AG5L2RRSJZ2VVMLSPFFLGKK2SU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b0d4f50faf87764a2314ddb45e7c561d82011defda38e1411af55acecb7dd64&width=400&height=225)
![Palestinian Muslim pilgrims arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, on August 4, 2018, ahead of their departure to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SUGG7ITEADWQKRJB3WQOGIVTLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=990b0341601d3f24a391847a711f2f4ccd8ea10f7dda153319909a3f7af199cf&width=400&height=225)
![Palestinian Muslim pilgrims pray as they arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, on August 4, 2018, ahead of their departure to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPAUG65UY6OAKDV5FVBJDDYOEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4716b0f0458bbd17a1830a91448a7309b13dc7232929baa21a72afa1063ebf5a&width=400&height=225)
![Muslim pilgrims go through passport control upon their arrival at Jeddah airport in the Saudi capital on July 14,2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SJP5W4KUG37VDZHWCWAXOMS2CQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=afd2807d37394f2a78d766f1304e7343ee3b1d84b1e016a9dfb41086d9bb9cf5&width=400&height=225)
![Pakistani pilgrims attend briefing session at Hajj Complex in preparation to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 185,000 Pakistanis will be performing the pilgrimage this year. In order to facilitate the pilgrims, the government of Pakistan makes requisite arrangements, including the set-up of special vaccination camps. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHMA2NISBMBAA2RZRS6HGJEL2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=36edbfae12806ec50604fb37de557ec9f7d6a173c40ec80c1a700bbcbe82bc98&width=400&height=225)
![Pakistan pilgrims complete their travel documents at Hajj Complex in preparation to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 185,000 Pakistanis will be performing the pilgrimage this year. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2EJT35SUJSHWDVDA4WEOUGT5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=ade962765932bff6d7fdb89cead31a0323f4cc7277fec81f2d9ab1c3c639e5b7&width=400&height=225)
![Muslim pilgrims pass around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah on September 3 during last year's annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RMMCE36DULDCFYPMSYXYQXIPRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3c67f3519735568ca7c8e97f266508583e4098dad318a7fe3b2005e1d2723afd&width=400&height=225)
![An Iraqi pilgrim shows his passport and ticket to Mecca as he wait for his flight at the airport in Najaf on July 31, 2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP / Haidar Hamdani](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7IQYHXPRKPUTSN6WWGIWOXTUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4875ff07691b3ce85386f7a5c63dab3ce866b3825d6d9b1fac176f71790b1e3&width=400&height=225)
![An Iraqi pilgrim shows his passport and ticket to Mecca as he waits for his flight at the airport in Najaf in southern-central Iraq on July 31, 2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FVSNA3YFNTSHYO7FRYEJNOLTM.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc7d2f9b30a7ef460d32cb061b1969162b2dd7cd1a645b341394b88b12bfc7f8&width=400&height=225)
![An Iraqi pilgrim arrives at the airport in Najaf on July 31, 2018, before his flight to go attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PLSLVMJFRRVSVMETXOZCTMWYRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=83201259debaa954b5ca1b2bb89d9e628ce570ef8000c6e84540acda6308e3fe&width=400&height=225)
![Relatives wait for the Hajj pilgrims to take off for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah at the airport in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QMLON6VRZFSXBJNZS7INIWAUGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2aef316f66a3d2f191b119e20d1404ed5075e45295308c40e0b1635683be0dad&width=400&height=225)
![Hajj pilgrims take a selfie before leaving for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, at the airport in Ahmedabad, India, August 1, 2018. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GZAT4NSLRWD25RNNCVI6INWSDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fb7f073f93e3319723f782aeb9be9f968168df40435062aa3d725fa35f563cd&width=400&height=225)
![Indian relatives wave as Hajj pilgrims board an Airbus A330 flight bound for Saudi Arabia, at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on August 1, 2018. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AG5L2RRSJZ2VVMLSPFFLGKK2SU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b0d4f50faf87764a2314ddb45e7c561d82011defda38e1411af55acecb7dd64&width=400&height=225)
![Palestinian Muslim pilgrims arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, on August 4, 2018, ahead of their departure to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SUGG7ITEADWQKRJB3WQOGIVTLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=990b0341601d3f24a391847a711f2f4ccd8ea10f7dda153319909a3f7af199cf&width=400&height=225)
![Palestinian Muslim pilgrims pray as they arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, on August 4, 2018, ahead of their departure to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPAUG65UY6OAKDV5FVBJDDYOEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4716b0f0458bbd17a1830a91448a7309b13dc7232929baa21a72afa1063ebf5a&width=400&height=225)
![Muslim pilgrims go through passport control upon their arrival at Jeddah airport in the Saudi capital on July 14,2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SJP5W4KUG37VDZHWCWAXOMS2CQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=afd2807d37394f2a78d766f1304e7343ee3b1d84b1e016a9dfb41086d9bb9cf5&width=400&height=225)
![Pakistani pilgrims attend briefing session at Hajj Complex in preparation to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 185,000 Pakistanis will be performing the pilgrimage this year. In order to facilitate the pilgrims, the government of Pakistan makes requisite arrangements, including the set-up of special vaccination camps. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHMA2NISBMBAA2RZRS6HGJEL2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=36edbfae12806ec50604fb37de557ec9f7d6a173c40ec80c1a700bbcbe82bc98&width=400&height=225)
![Pakistan pilgrims complete their travel documents at Hajj Complex in preparation to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 185,000 Pakistanis will be performing the pilgrimage this year. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2EJT35SUJSHWDVDA4WEOUGT5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=ade962765932bff6d7fdb89cead31a0323f4cc7277fec81f2d9ab1c3c639e5b7&width=400&height=225)
Hajj travel tips: from visa dates to scams and a handy app
The pilgrimage begins on August 19, which means that this week thousands of dedicated Muslims will be on the move. Here's everything you need to know
Melinda Healy
August 17, 2018
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