South Asian nationals will top foreign pilgrims expected to perform Haj, with more than 410,000 out of a total of 1.3 million, said a report.

It will be followed by Arab countries with more than 250,000 pilgrims, said the Arab News report.

About 228,000 pilgrims will come from Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia and Malaysia, while Turkey and European countries will send 190,000, non-Arab African countries 170,000 and Iran 63,000, it said.

About 150,000 domestic pilgrims, including expatriates will perform Haj this year, Saad Al-Qurashi, a member of the National Haj & Umrah Committee, was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Haj Ministry refuted reports that the government would take the assistance of foreign security companies to manage the annual pilgrimage, said the report.

Its official emphasised that the kingdom would employ only Saudi companies to manage Haj affairs, it added.