Ethiopian birr collapse doubles Hajj costs for Somali Regional state Residents..

The cost of performing Hajj for residents of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State has skyrocketed this year, nearly doubling compared to 2024, as the Ethiopian birr suffers its worst depreciation in history, The increase comes amid the birr’s steepest devaluation in history, creating a financial burden that many in the region are struggling to bear…

The Supreme Islamic Council of the Somali Regional State has confirmed that the cost of Hajj for 2025 has risen to 625,000 birr, up from 329,000 birr in 2024, The figure is also higher than those cited in earlier reports for other regions of Ethiopia. The region’s Supreme Islamic Council said it had no choice but to adjust the costs in line with exchange rate fluctuations.

The spike in costs has caused frustration among residents, particularly as Hajj—a deeply spiritual obligation for Muslims—is seen as a once-in-a-lifetime duty, Abdirahman attributed the steep rise to the widening gap between the value of the birr and the dollar, noting that the economic disparity has created a perception of higher costs, even though Hajj expenses have technically declined in dollar terms.

The financial strain is not unique to Ethiopia. Somali pilgrims have historically faced some of the highest Hajj costs in the region, often paying nearly three times more than neighbouring countries. For example, while Somali pilgrims are charged $4,604 for the 2025 pilgrimage, packages in Kenya and Djibouti can be as low as $1,600.