Saudi Arabia's Armed Forces took part in an annual military demonstration on Monday ahead of the arrival of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims for Hajj. Security personnel marched and took part in an elaborate exercise to show it is ready for any event. On Tuesday, the Saudi General Directorate of Passports said the number of Hajj pilgrims coming from abroad via air, land and sea ports reached 1,486,958. The Saudi Press Agency broke down the arrival figures as follows: Eithad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, said on Monday it is operating special charters to carry pilgrims on its additional flights to Jeddah and Medina Airport. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and the world's largest annual pilgrimage. <strong>Find out more here: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/gcc/hajj-2018-explained-two-million-muslims-descend-on-makkah-for-a-journey-of-a-lifetime-1.759610">Hajj 2018 explained - The journey of a lifetime</a></strong>
