Hajj begins in Makkah amid soaring summer temperatures
The Hajj pilgrimage will begin on Wednesday with some 1.8 million Muslims from across the globe gathering in the tents of Mina in Makkah, the holy city for Muslims. The annual gathering will conclude on June 8.
As of June 3, 2025, over 1.3 million pilgrims from around the world had arrived in Mecca, including those from India. The Hajj Committee of India is managing arrangements for 122,518 pilgrims.
So far, 3,314 charter flights carrying pilgrims have arrived from 238 destinations in 71 countries, operated by 62 airlines, with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah handling 57% of these flights and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah 42%.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway has also been operating since the season’s start, with 4,700 scheduled trips planned to transport over 2 million passengers, adding 400,000 more seats than last year to enhance pilgrim capacity and convenience.
During a meeting with heads of Hajj missions from various countries, held on the sidelines of the recent 49th Grand Hajj Symposium in Jeddah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah urged Hajj affairs offices to strictly adhere to movement regulations within the holy sites, emphasizing the importance of pilgrim safety and the smooth performance of rituals.
Al-Rabiah underscored the pivotal role of the Nusuk card, mandating its use for accessing the Grand Mosque, holy sites, or public transportation, affirming the card is now a key regulatory tool for performing rituals and preventing violations.
The Nusuk Card is a digital identification card issued by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for pilgrims performing Hajj.
Amid soaring summer temperatures, Saudi authorities on Tuesday urged Hajj pilgrims to remain in their tents for several hours during the peak of this week’s pilgrimage to ensure their safety.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah has requested that pilgrims refrain from leaving their tents between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, the Day of Arafat, considered the most significant day of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The advisory comes in response to the risk of heat-related illnesses during what is expected to be one of the hottest periods of the pilgrimage.
For the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) forecasts maximum temperatures of 40°C and minimums of 29°C, with wind speeds reaching up to 65 km/h, humidity levels peaking at 65%, and partly cloudy skies accompanied by dust.
The Ministry of Health has already reported several cases of heat exhaustion among pilgrims, with authorities continuing to stress the importance of hydration and heat protection throughout the pilgrimage.
The ministry urged pilgrims to use umbrellas, drink water regularly, even if they are not thirsty, and wear light-colored, lightweight clothing.
To further safeguard pilgrims, the health ministry has deployed over 34 field health units strategically across the holy sites, ensuring quick medical response to cases of heat stress.
Additionally, a multilingual health awareness kit has been launched, offering safety and wellness guidance in eight languages to help pilgrims take preventive measures during Hajj.
In addition, Minister of Health and Chairman of NUPCO's Board of Directors, Fahad AlJalajel, on Monday inaugurated advanced medical supply services using drones and helicopters during his inspection of NUPCO’s logistics center in Arafat, a move aimed at assessing the company’s readiness for the 1446 AH Hajj season and ensuring accessible healthcare for pilgrims.
In addition to drone delivery, NUPCO introduced the "Smart Health Bracelet" initiative, which aims to monitor the health indicators of security personnel on the ground.
Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel has inspected the readiness of the health equipment and the overall sector preparedness for the Hajj season
The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) is fully operational in Mina, delivering real-time weather data as part of an integrated system to support safety measures and facilitate the Hajj rituals, especially in preparation for the Day of Tarwiyah.
The Royal Saudi Land Forces, through the Military Police, are significantly maintaining order and enhancing preventive measures to ensure pilgrim safety throughout the Hajj season.
The Military Police, in coordination with relevant authorities at the ministry, are responsible for managing the entry of pilgrims arriving from Mina to the Grand Mosque, ensuring smooth traffic flow and effective crowd control during the peak Hajj season.
Several Palestinian pilgrims, hosted under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visitation, supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, expressed their gratitude for the hospitality extended to them, amid the israeli Genocide.
Crackdown on permit violations
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior continues its efforts to prevent people without Hajj permits from entering or staying in Mecca and the holy sites, warning that violators and facilitators will be arrested and penalised.
Officials announced on Sunday that over 269,000 individuals without the necessary permits were stopped from entering Mecca ahead of the Hajj.
Saudi officials have attributed overcrowding at the pilgrimage to permit violations, noting that deaths in previous years were often of those without a valid permit.
There are fines of up to $5,000 and other punitive measures, like deportation, a 10-year ban from entering for anyone performing the Hajj without a permit. The policy includes citizens and those with Saudi residency.
In 2025, India has a Hajj quota of 175,025 pilgrims, with the Haj Committee of India managing arrangements for 122,518 of them. Saudi Arabia slashed the private Hajj quota by 80% by cancelling Mina zone allocations for private tour operators, officially known as Combined Hajj Group Organisers (CHGOs).
According to official reports, over 800 private Hajj tour operators in India were consolidated into 26 legal entities, known as Combined Hajj Group Operators (CHGOs), by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) in line with revised guidelines issued by Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj season.
While the Hajj quota was allocated to these CHGOs well in advance, several of them reportedly failed to adhere to the timelines and contractual requirements set by Saudi authorities for accommodations and other essential arrangements.
Despite repeated reminders, the necessary formalities were not completed on time.
