RIYADH: With Hajj 2026 wrapped up, many are taking to social media to share their experiences, opening the door for heartfelt online conversations, spiritual reflection, and hospitality recommendations.
From influencers with large followings to small anonymous creators, the social media community have taken to their platforms to show snippets of their Hajj journeys, from accommodations to emotional feedback and experiences around Makkah post-Hajj.
The style of personal vlogs by creators online gave a raw glimpse into Hajj that traditional coverage cannot easily access, attracting millions of views.
Widely circulated content online captures Hajj pilgrims’ interactions with the workforce behind Hajj, from volunteers to security personnel.
UK-based creator Nimrah (@nimrahmx) shared a video on TikTok filmed after pilgrims spent a night in Muzdalifah.
“After a long tired night in Muzdalifah you hear ‘Hajj Mubarak’ and ‘Eid Mubarak,’ and there is no better feeling,” she wrote in the caption of the video showcasing security personnel greeting worshippers.
Other pilgrims shared their experiences in the comment sections of the TikTok post. One user recalled how security personnel helped pilgrims cope with the heat during her Hajj journey, writing: “They hosed down my husband from head to toe with water. The walk was exhausting but so beautiful, Alhamdulillah.”
This theme of warmth in hospitality emerged repeatedly throughout online posts, with many recalling their interactions with locals as volunteers as positive and welcoming.
TikTok content creator Ikky (@lifeofikky), with 19.3k followers, filmed his Hajj experience with great detail, showing content from food to heat management tips, and interactions with locals.
He captioned a video: “POV: Saudi locals are the most hospitable people,” showing residents distributing water and food packages to pilgrims.
“The hospitality here is next level. People here are so welcoming, and we’ve got food packages here as well,” he said in the video.
Speaking to Arab News on his decision behind filming his Hajj journey, Ikky said he began documenting the pilgrimage as a way to preserve memories of what he described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience while also encouraging others to embark on the journey.
“I wanted my Hajj journey to be memorable, to be something I can later look back at and reflect on,” he said. “For the viewers I wanted to encourage and inspire them to also make the journey.”
Before emphasizing that the challenges are what made his journey so impactful, he shared that he had visited the Kingdom a few times prior stating that; “It has never failed me, the people are friendly, the atmosphere is fantastic, and it is vibrant.”
Smaller content creators also took to Tiktok to share their Hajj experiences, for documentation purposes as well as to share their long-awaited journeys with others.
Twenty-year old Malaysian creator Aish (@kaishxa09) on TikTok posted Hajj ‘vlogs’ showing his journey from Malaysia all the way to Al-Kiswah Towers hotel in Makkah.
When asked about the thought process behind sharing his Hajj experience online, he told Arab News:
“It was most like a journal and a diary instead of a public sharing, mainly to record the precious memories of my hajj experience in this holy land.”
He echoed Ikky’s sentiments regarding the hospitality in Makkah standing out as a positive aspect throughout his journey, telling Arab News:
“To be honest what stood out to me most is the kindness, sincerity, and generosity behind their (locals') smiles and hospitality, which makes my hajj experience more pleasing.”
While Aish is a small creator who posted for his friends and family’s views, his comment section showed support and a sense of community.
On a local angle, Saudi creator Sarah (iiug_20), with more than 363,000 followers on TikTok, also shared Hajj content which drew comments from over 800 users, creating a comment section full of affection, nostalgia, and advice.
Some users reflected their attachment to the holy sites post-Hajj, while others commented that they hope to go in coming years, all of which opened room for dialogue and an exchange of experiences and support.
For many of the hundreds of thousands of viewers, access to online Hajj content granted them a perspective on the journey beyond the rituals themselves, sharing insight into emotional and physical aspects that are shared from a first person point of view.
For Ikky, sharing his Hajj experience online was emotionally rewarding, as he enjoted seeing how his followers connected with his journey, telling Arab News: “They felt as though they were a part of the journey.
“They wanted an insight on how Hajj is performed and they got most parts of it from my videos.”
The notion of sharing the journey of Hajj through raw first-hand filmed footage has created a space online where both practical and emotional advice is shared, allowing for many to connect, learn, and plan ahead.
