Under a blazing sun on Wednesday, over a million pilgrims embarked on Islam’s most significant ritual as the Hajj began. Saudi hosts are intensifying efforts to prevent a recurrence of last year’s tragic fatalities, which exceeded 1,000 deaths due to sweltering heat.
With temperatures projected to surpass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), pilgrims adorned in their sacred robes slowly circumambulated the Kaaba at the core of Makkah’s Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site.
Saudi media reported that other pilgrims had commenced their arrival in Mina, the sprawling tent city located on Makkah’s outskirts. They are expected to spend the night there before the Hajj’s pivotal day on Thursday, offering prayers on Mount Arafat, believed to be the location where Prophet Mohammad delivered his final sermon.
Approximately 1.4 million pilgrims had already arrived in Saudi Arabia in advance of the Hajj, which stands as one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory at least once for all Muslims who possess the means to undertake it.
Authorities have significantly escalated heat protection measures, including providing additional shaded areas, to prevent a repeat of last year’s devastating toll, when 1,301 individuals perished as temperatures soared to 51.8°C (125.2°F). On Wednesday, pilgrims will perform the tawaf, involving seven circumambulations around the Kaaba, which Muslims face daily for prayer.
Muslim worshippers arrive at a camp housing pilgrims in Mina near Makkah on June 3, 2025, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. — AFP
Before entering Makkah, pilgrims are required to enter a state of purity, known as ihram, which necessitates specific attire and conduct. Men don a seamless, shroud-like white garment, emphasizing unity among believers regardless of their social standing or nationality. Women, conversely, wear loose-fitting white dresses, exposing only their faces and hands.
Pilgrims arriving by bus had already begun to gradually make their way into Mina on Tuesday afternoon, where they were greeted by staff offering coffee and dates. “I am so happy, it’s such an amazing feeling,” expressed Reem al-Shogre, a 35-year-old Saudi woman performing the pilgrimage for the very first time.
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence
Following last year’s deadly heatwave, authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials to enhance protective measures. Hajj Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah informed AFP last week that shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square meters (12 acres), thousands of additional medics will be on standby, and over 400 cooling units are slated for deployment.
Artificial intelligence technology will assist in processing the enormous volume of data, including video footage from a new fleet of drones, to more effectively manage the vast crowds. Authorities indicated that most of last year’s fatalities occurred among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to essential amenities like air-conditioned tents and buses.
This year, they have intensified their crackdown on unregistered individuals, employing frequent raids, drone surveillance, and a continuous stream of text alerts. Hajj permits are allocated to countries based on a quota system and distributed to individuals via a lottery. However, despite the availability of permits, the substantial costs involved compel many to attempt the Hajj without official authorization, even though they risk arrest and deportation if apprehended.
Large gatherings at the Hajj have historically proven hazardous, most notably in 2015 when a stampede during the “stoning the devil” ritual in Mina claimed the lives of up to 2,300 people, marking the deadliest Hajj disaster in recent history.
