Rabat – More than 1.5 million pilgrims have flown or traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
A News Arabia report quoted a Saudi official as saying that this figure surpasses last year’s number of international pilgrims.
The high turnout comes amid tensions in the Middle East linked to the ongoing war between the US, Israel, and Iran.
Saleh Al-Murabba, commander of Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Passport Forces, told the press that the total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153.
The figure could rise further as pilgrims continue to arrive from various countries to perform the rituals marking the beginning of Hajj.
Last year, a total of 1,673,320 pilgrims performed Hajj, including 1,506,576 from outside Saudi Arabia.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, required for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey.
Reports have highlighted scorching daytime temperatures ranging between 42 and 47 degrees Celsius during the pilgrimage period.
The Brussels Times reported that some pilgrims avoided praying at the Kaaba due to the extreme heat.
Other reports also emphasize the importance of hydration amid rising heat risks, with experts advising pilgrims to drink at least two to three liters of water per day.
Last year, Saudi Arabia announced the world’s largest cooling system at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, as well as at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, in an effort to ease conditions for millions of pilgrims.
This followed the 2024 Hajj season, which saw deaths among pilgrims due to extreme heat. Reports indicated that at least 1,301 pilgrims died, with the primary cause being heatwaves exceeding 50 degrees Celsius.
This year, Arafah Day, one of the most important rituals of Hajj, will take place on May 26. It falls on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage. On this day, millions of Muslims gather on the plains of Mount Arafat to seek Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.
Moroccan pilgrims participating in this year’s Hajj number 34,000.
