Over 1.5 Million Pilgrims Gather at Mount Arafat Amid Scorching Heat and Tight Security
Saudi Arabia enforces strict measures for Hajj 2025 to prevent unregulated pilgrimage and heat-related disasters, after last year’s deadly tragedy.
Watan-Pilgrims continue to converge on Mount Arafat today, Thursday, for the most significant ritual of Hajj—standing on the sacred plain of Arafat.
Saudi Arabia announced that over 1.5 million pilgrims from abroad have arrived in the Kingdom for this year’s Hajj, held under extreme heat and strict enforcement measures aimed at preventing unregulated pilgrimage after last year’s disaster that killed more than 1,000 people.
At dawn, pilgrims gather on Arafat, located about 23 km from the Grand Mosque in Mecca, where they will spend the day in worship—prayers, supplications, and Quran recitation—until sunset.
After sundown, pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, midway between Arafat and Mina, to rest and spend the night in preparation for Eid al-Adha. There, they collect small stones for the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamarat.
High Temperatures and Safety Warnings
Saudi authorities urged pilgrims to remain inside their tents between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Arafat Day to avoid the searing desert sun. The current Hajj season includes enhanced heat precautions after last year’s 1,301 heat-related deaths, with temperatures peaking at 51.8°C (125°F).
Iraqi pilgrim Alaa Al-Rifai recalled witnessing people collapse during last year’s Hajj:
“I saw the dead with my own eyes on the roads. The heat was unbearable.”
He added that this year, “the roads are empty—people are staying in their tents.”
On Wednesday, temperatures reached 42°C (107.6°F) in Mecca and surrounding holy sites, according to Saudi meteorological authorities.
Arrival and Rituals
On the Day of Tarwiyah (the day before Arafat), pilgrims dressed in white Ihram garments arrive in Mecca to perform the Tawaf of Arrival, circling the Kaaba seven times.
Khitam, a 63-year-old pilgrim from Gaza, said:
“Before Hajj, I used to watch the Grand Mosque on TV all day. Now I feel disconnected from the world.”
Saudi pilgrim Reem Al-Shughri, performing Hajj for the first time, said:
“I’m extremely happy. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Pilgrims began arriving in Mina by bus on Tuesday, where organizers welcomed them with dates and coffee.
“We expect over a million pilgrims to reach Mina by the end of today,” said Ministry of Hajj spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuaimi.
New Safety Measures
Saudi Arabia has deployed over 250,000 personnel and coordinated with more than 40 government agencies to address potential heat risks, according to Minister of Hajj Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.
New measures include:
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50,000 square meters of additional shaded space
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Thousands of medical teams on standby
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Over 400 cooling units
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Enhanced public awareness campaigns
Ibrahim Al-Muzaini, director of Al-Furqan Hajj Agency, praised this year’s preparation:
“Most pilgrims stayed inside their tents—awareness campaigns worked.”
The Grand Mosque cooling system is the largest in the world, purifying its air conditioning nine times daily. Authorities also built air-conditioned pedestrian pathways, including a new 4-kilometer path to Mount Arafat.
AI and drone technology are being used to monitor and analyze crowd movement to improve crowd control and safety.
Crackdown on Unauthorized Pilgrims
Most of last year’s fatalities were among unauthorized pilgrims who lacked access to cooled tents and official transport.
This year, authorities launched a massive campaign against unregulated Hajj, including drone surveillance, raid operations, and SMS alerts. Billboards in Mecca read boldly:
“No Hajj Without a Permit.”
Pilgrimage permits are allocated by national quota systems and distributed through lotteries. However, high costs have led some to attempt Hajj without permits, risking arrest, deportation, and a 10-year entry ban.
Economic and Historical Importance
Hajj and Umrah are major sources of revenue for Saudi Arabia, which hosts Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina. These pilgrimages generate billions in annual income.
However, the Hajj has also seen tragic incidents, most notably in 2015, when a stampede during the Jamarat ritual in Mina killed nearly 2,300 people, marking the deadliest event in Hajj history.
