Hajj Guide: Russia

Russian jamaah haji register through the Haji Committee of the Russian Federation, operating under the Council of Muftis of Russia. Regional spiritual boards (Dukhovnye Upravleniya Musulman) in Muslim-majority republics assist with local registration. Applicants must submit a valid Russian international passport (zagranpasport), medical fitness certificate, meningitis vaccination, and passport photographs. The Haji Committee coordinates visa processing with the Saudi Embassy in Moscow. Registration occurs through regional Islamic authorities.

The Haji Committee of the Russian Federation coordinates with regional spiritual boards to organize Haji. Authorized operators are approved by the committee in conjunction with regional muftiyats. The largest delegations come from Chechnya, Dagestan, and Tatarstan, each with their own regional Haji coordination. Pilgrims should register through official regional Islamic authority channels and avoid unlicensed operators.

Russia's Muslim population (~20 million) is concentrated in the North Caucasus (Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia) and the Volga-Ural region (Tatarstan, Bashkortostan). Russian, Chechen, and Tatar-speaking guides may be available in Arab Saudi. The ruble-to-riyal exchange rate should be checked before departure. Russia's diverse climate means preparation varies by region — North Caucasus jamaah haji may find Saudi panas less shocking than those from Siberia. Russian Muslims predominantly follow the Hanafi and Shafi'i madhahib. The Chechen and Dagestani delegations are particularly well-organized with strong group support.