Faithful flock to Mina as Hajj begins

MAKKAH:

Over 1.5 million faithful began filling a vast tent city near the holy city of Makkah on Monday for an annual Hajj pilgrimage carried out against the backdrop of hopes for an end to the war in the Middle East.

The white-robed pilgrims on buses or on foot arrived at the sprawling encampment in Mina after performing the "Tawaf"—walking seven times around the holy Kaaba at Makkah's Grand Mosque.

As pilgrims arrived in Mina in waves, temperatures hit 45C in the area as Saudi health authorities called on Hajj participants to use umbrellas and reduce sun exposure to prevent heat exhaustion.

Despite the uncertainty triggered by the war, Saudi officials noted over the weekend that more pilgrims had travelled from abroad to participate in this year's Hajj than in 2025. Officials have been keen to keep the Middle East conflict far from the minds of visitors.

Authorities in the kingdom signalled their readiness for smooth proceedings. A video posted on social media by the Saudi defence ministry showed advanced air defence batteries positioned on the outskirts of Makkah. "The air defence forces are responsible for protecting the skies over the holy sites and dealing with all aerial threats, ensuring the safety and peace of mind of the guests," read the post.

Many pilgrims who spoke to AFP expressed their hope that peace would prevail soon. "The war in Iran has affected the entire world. Nobody wants wars or harm to countries and peoples," said Mohammed Chahada, an Egyptian in his 50s, as he walked through a crowd exiting the Grand Mosque.

The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. During the Hajj, men wear a seamless white garment that emphasises unity among believers regardless of their social status or nationality. Women must wear loose dresses, exposing only their faces and hands.

The first ritual of the Hajj requires walking seven times around the holy Kaaba. The pilgrims next walk seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwa. They then move on to Mina, around five kilometres away, ahead of the main rite of the pilgrimage at Mount Arafat.

On Tuesday (today), the climax of the Hajj is the gathering on Mount Arafat, about 10 kilometres from Mina. The arduous, outdoor pilgrimage will be held against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions but also under punishing heat, with temperatures forecast to top 40C for much of the week.

Despite the heat and the uncertainty over the war, pilgrims in Makkah were ecstatic. "I have wanted to perform the pilgrimage my entire life, for 40 or 50 years," said Jreish Mohammed, a 68-year-old decked out in the traditional attire from his native Morocco. "And this year, my dream came true."