Hello and welcome to Business Daily from BBC World Service with me Samir Hashmi.

Today we are in Saudi Arabia where millions of Muslims have gathered for Hajj, the largest pilgrimage in Islam.

While Saudi Arabia sees it as a religious duty to host pilgrims, Hajan Umra also represent a vast economic opportunity.

Religious tourism is already a key economic driver for Saudi Arabia,

and it's aiming to welcome 30 million pilgrims every year by 2030.

So can Saudi Arabia capitalize on this growing demand for religious tourism?

That's all coming up in today's business daily.

Thank you for God for America. coming up in today's business daily. Tens of thousands of Muslims recite a sacred verse as they perform Hajj.

This is the Talbia, the call every pilgrim says as they undertake the five-day pilgrimage.

Each year, millions of Muslims arrive in Islam's holiest city, Makkah, to take part in Hajj, the fifth and final pillar of Islam.

It takes place in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar and is mandatory at least once in a lifetime

for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able.

This year, more than 1.5 million people are taking part in the pilgrimage.

I've been trying to get a place for Hajj since 2010. I have been trying to get a place for Hajj since 2010.

After 15 years, I finally managed to come.

When my wife and I found out we were going, we were overjoyed.

Not only me, but also my children, my friends, my relatives, my loved ones and my acquaintances.

All of them were very happy for us, because they all knew how eager we were to come to God's

sacred house and perform the Hajj. I have been waiting for 20 years. I cried and prayed every year

that I wanted to come to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, God willing.

After a lot of prayers, I have finally managed to come. I am very happy.

While Hajj is the largest gathering of Muslims in the world, pilgrims also travel to Saudi Arabia year-round to perform Umra, the lesser pilgrimage.

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