The Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments reported that 267 Algerian pilgrims left Houari Bourmediene International Airport in Algiers to take part in the holy Bekaa for 2017. 

The Ministry encouraged the pilgrims to be good representatives of the Algerian culture, the Islamic religion and their qualities and morals.

Police were present at the departure to grant them safe travels, and will be ready to receive the pilgrims upon their arrival.

A screening and inspection process was in place to help the travel portion of the pilgrimage go smoothly —  this was only expected to take several minutes.