Libya concludes electronic Hajj lottery for 2026 season
1,513,818 Libyans registered for the Hajj lottery this year, a figure that exceeds the national quota by nearly 200 times.
Libya.- Libya’s General Authority for Hajj and Umrah has concluded its electronic lottery process for selecting pilgrims for the upcoming 1447 AH / 2026 Hajj season.
On Saturday, February 7, the authority completed the computerised lottery draw at approved coordination offices and centres nationwide. Deputy Head Sabri Al-Buwaishi confirmed to local outlets that successful applicants will be notified directly via text message, while full results will be published later through Hajj coordination offices.
The electronic lottery system, increasingly central to Libya’s pilgrimage allocation, mirrors elements of regulated lottery systems found in the gambling industry: a randomised selection mechanism intended to distribute scarce opportunities fairly among an oversized pool of applicants. Yet unlike casinos or state-run lotteries, where funds fuel prizes, Libya’s draw determines who can fulfil one of Islam’s core religious duties under a finite state quota.
According to official data, 1,513,818 Libyans registered for the Hajj lottery this year, a figure that exceeds the national quota by nearly 200 times. Among those registered were 864,011 men and 649,807 women.
Saudi authorities usually allocate Libya roughly 7,800 Hajj places based on population criteria. As a result, only a small share of applicants will secure a slot, reflecting a selection process driven by odds similar to those used in lotteries and gambling.
According to officials, the government subsidies Hajj for chosen pilgrims to lower economic barriers and enable more citizens to take part.
With result notifications underway and full declarations pending at coordination offices, the eyes of millions of applicants now await one of Libya’s most sought-after “lotteries”, where faith, chance and luck intersect.
