The first group of pilgrims from Uzbekistan will depart for Saudi Arabia on November 10, the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan said.

Above 5 thousand pilgrims plan to perform hajj this year. They will fly from Bukhara, Urgench, Termez and Namangan. Earlier, they could fly only from Tashkent.

In the run-up to the hajj, the government of Uzbekistan approved actions to prevent spread of A/H1N1 flu in Uzbekistan and health protection of the pilgrims and the country''s population.

According to the Religious Affairs Committee, more than 60 thousand Uzbek citizens performed hajj and the same number performed Umrah (minor hajj) since Uzbekistan gained sovereignty. More than 2 thousand religious organizations and 16 different confessions are registered in Uzbekistan, of which 92% constitute Muslim organizations. More than 2 thousand mosques are functioning in Uzbekistan.