Pilgrims gather in Mecca amid scorching desert heat

Saudi authorities double safety efforts as over a million Muslims arrive for annual haj

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MECCA, Saudi Arabia — More than a million Muslim pilgrims are in the holy city of Mecca ahead of the annual haj, with the authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal visitors.

Temperatures are forecast to exceed 40 deg C this week as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings officially commences on June 4.

The haj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means.

As at May 30, more than 1.3 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the multi-day pilgrimage, according to officials.

The authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials in 2025, doubling their efforts to mitigate heat-related risks following a lethal heatwave in 2024 that left hundreds dead.

Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 sq m, thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed for the duration of the haj, Saudi Arabia's Haj Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP last week.