Saudi Arabia expects 1 mln pilgrims in Mecca and temperatures reaching 50°C

Muslims praying around the Kaaba. Illustrative photo: blog.quranmajeed.com

Over 1 million people are expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia for the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage, which begins on June 4, 2025. Due to this large influx and the forecasted extreme heat, authorities are strengthening safety measures in and around Mecca, Financial Times reports.

In recent months, the Saudi government has warned that pilgrims without official permits will face increased fines of $5,000 – double the amount from last year – and may be banned from entering the country for 10 years.

According to official data, most of last year's heatstroke-related deaths occurred among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to adequate shelter and basic services during the extreme heat.

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, emphasized that pilgrims must arrive on a proper Hajj visa – not on a tourist or visitor visa.

To mitigate the impact of soaring temperatures, which could reach nearly 50°C (122°F), the authorities have planted 10,000 trees and installed 400 water-cooling and misting units across the country. They also expanded the use of "white roads" – surfaces paved with recycled materials designed to reduce heat absorption from sunlight.

Pilgrim movement will be monitored using drones and artificial intelligence to manage crowds and prevent stampedes.

The government also plans to introduce a scheduling system to prevent pilgrims from being outdoors between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when the heat is most intense.

Previously, Saudi security forces reported that they had denied entry to Mecca to 269,678 individuals. Additionally, over 23,000 Saudi residents were fined for violating Hajj regulations, and licenses for 400 pilgrimage-related companies were revoked.

In recent years, the Kingdom has increasingly promoted religious tourism. However, critics argue that the high cost of Hajj packages and long wait times under the country quota system have led to a rise in unregistered pilgrims.

According to Islamic tradition, every adult Muslim is required to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able. Approximately 1.5 million people participate in the annual pilgrimage.

As previously reported, over 1,000 people died from heat-related causes during last year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

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