04 June 2025

4-minute read

Millions of Muslims begin Hajj 2025 in Makkah as Saudi Arabia enforces strict heat and permit regulations to ensure a safe and spiritually meaningful pilgrimage.Credit: Al Harmain SA

MAKKAH: Under the scorching summer sun, over 1.4 million pilgrims from across the globe have begun arriving in Mina as the first rites of Hajj 2025 officially commence.

Dressed in seamless white garments, men and women alike entered the tent city of Mina on Wednesday, signalling the start of one of the world’s largest and most significant religious gatherings.

The crowd – united in purpose and devotion – will spend the day and night in Mina, engaging in prayers and preparing for the pivotal day of Arafat. The pilgrimage coincides with high summer temperatures in Saudi Arabia, prompting heightened safety and health measures by the authorities.

This year’s Hajj features a sweeping deployment of over 250,000 officials from more than 40 government agencies. Authorities have installed over 400 high-powered cooling units at key sites and expanded shaded areas by 50,000 square metres to protect pilgrims from heatstroke. Temperatures during the pilgrimage are expected to exceed 40°C, though not reaching last year’s extreme of 51.8°C when over 1,300 people died – many of them unregistered and lacking proper facilities.

Two major cooling stations – Shamiya and Ajyad – are operating around the clock at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, keeping ambient temperatures between 22°C and 24°C using a combined capacity of 155,000 refrigeration tonnes.

Advanced technology, including artificial intelligence and drone surveillance, is also in place to monitor crowd movements and coordinate emergency responses. Medical teams, including 50,000 healthcare and administrative staff, have been placed on alert with more than 700 hospital beds and ventilators reserved for critical cases.

Officials confirmed they had already treated dozens of heatstroke cases in the early stages of the pilgrimage. The Saudi Ministry of Health is preparing for a “worst-case scenario” to avoid a repeat of last year’s fatalities.

To prevent overcrowding and ensure the safety of legitimate pilgrims, Saudi authorities have intensified their enforcement of entry permits. More than 269,000 individuals without Hajj authorisation have been turned away from Makkah. Violators face fines of up to 20,000 riyals ($5,300), while facilitators of illegal pilgrims face even steeper penalties. Foreign nationals found breaching Hajj rules could be deported and banned from re-entering Saudi Arabia for up to 10 years.

In 1987, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation introduced a Hajj quota system, capping pilgrim numbers per country at 0.1 per cent of their Muslim population. Despite this, high costs and permit scarcity push many to attempt the journey illegally. Saudi authorities have stepped up surveillance and awareness campaigns, urging pilgrims to comply with official channels to ensure safety.

Large-scale incidents in past years, such as the 2015 stampede in Mina that killed over 2,000 people during the Rami al-Jamarat, continue to serve as reminders of the challenges in crowd management during Hajj.

This year’s Hajj culminates with the celebration of Eid Al Adha on 6 June. The Islamic festival commemorates the Quranic account of Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The occasion is marked by animal sacrifices, feasting, and charity among Muslims worldwide.

Source: Travels Dubai