MECCA (Kaab TV) – Nearly two million Muslim pilgrims from around the world gathered Thursday at Mount Arafat to perform the most important ritual of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, marking the spiritual climax of one of the largest religious gatherings on earth.

Pilgrims dressed in white garments streamed toward the plains of Arafat from the holy city of Mecca, where they are expected to remain in prayer, reflection, and supplication until sunset on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar.

The Day of Arafat is regarded as the holiest day of Hajj and among the most sacred days in Islam. It is on this day that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) delivered his Farewell Sermon more than 1,400 years ago during his final pilgrimage.

Islamic tradition places immense spiritual importance on standing at Arafat, with the Prophet famously declaring, “Hajj is Arafat,” emphasizing that the pilgrimage is incomplete without this central ritual.

At midday, pilgrims are expected to combine and perform the Dhuhr and Asr prayers before listening to the annual Hajj sermon delivered to worshippers gathered on the plains. After sunset, pilgrims will leave Arafat and travel to Muzdalifah, where they will combine the Maghrib and Isha prayers and spend the night collecting pebbles for the symbolic stoning ritual in Mina.

Religious scholars describe the Day of Arafat as a day of mercy, forgiveness, and acceptance of prayers. Muslims believe it is among the days when Allah frees the greatest number of believers from Hellfire and forgives the sins of those who sincerely repent.

Pilgrims spent the day reciting verses from the Qur’an, making personal prayers, and seeking spiritual renewal. Muslims around the world who are not performing Hajj are also encouraged to fast on the Day of Arafat, a practice considered highly virtuous in Islam.

Saudi authorities have implemented one of the kingdom’s largest security and logistical operations to manage the massive crowds during this year’s pilgrimage. Thousands of police officers, emergency personnel, healthcare workers, and volunteers have been deployed across the holy sites to maintain order and assist pilgrims.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said advanced technologies including artificial intelligence systems, crowd-monitoring cameras, multilingual digital guidance services, and smart transportation networks are being used to improve safety and facilitate the movement of pilgrims between the holy sites.

Authorities have also expanded medical and cooling services amid concerns over high temperatures, following deadly heatwaves during previous Hajj seasons that caused hundreds of heat-related illnesses and deaths.

This year’s pilgrimage marks one of the largest Hajj gatherings since the COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted attendance between 2020 and 2022. Saudi officials said more than 1.5 million pilgrims arrived from outside the kingdom, while hundreds of thousands more traveled from within Saudi Arabia.

The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and is required once in a lifetime for all Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.

The gathering at Arafat comes ahead of the global celebration of Eid al-Adha, which commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command.

Pilgrims are expected to continue the remaining Hajj rituals in Mina over the coming days before concluding their pilgrimage with farewell prayers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, home to the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site.

MECCA (Kaab TV) – Nearly two million Muslim pilgrims from around the world have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage, as Saudi authorities finalize massive security, health, and logistical preparations ahead of the start of the main rituals.

Officials from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said more than 1.5 million pilgrims have traveled from outside the kingdom, while hundreds of thousands more are participating from within Saudi Arabia after obtaining official permits through the country’s Hajj registration system.

The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, is expected to officially begin in the coming days in the holy city of Mecca, where pilgrims will carry out a series of religious rituals including Tawaf around the Kaaba, prayers in Mina, the standing at Arafat, and overnight stays in Muzdalifah.

Saudi authorities have placed the holy sites under heightened security amid concerns over overcrowding, extreme temperatures, and the movement of millions of pilgrims across a limited area within a short period of time. Thousands of police officers, medical personnel, civil defense teams, and emergency responders have been deployed throughout Mecca and surrounding pilgrimage zones.

The kingdom has also expanded the use of modern technology this year, including artificial intelligence systems, electronic crowd-monitoring networks, smart transport management systems, and digital guidance platforms designed to improve the safety and movement of pilgrims.

Authorities announced the schedules for imams leading prayers at the holy mosques, as well as the muezzins and religious scholars who will deliver sermons throughout the 1447 Hijri Hajj season, corresponding to the year 2026.

One of the major new developments this year is the expansion of multilingual religious services for pilgrims. Saudi officials confirmed that Somali-language translations and guidance materials have been added for the first time on a wider scale due to the increasing number of pilgrims arriving from Somalia and Somali-speaking communities abroad.

The Hajj pilgrimage has seen a steady recovery in attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted global religious travel. In 2020, only around 10,000 people residing inside Saudi Arabia were allowed to perform Hajj under strict health restrictions, marking the smallest pilgrimage in modern history.

Attendance gradually increased in the following years, reaching approximately 1.8 million pilgrims in both 2023 and 2024, and around 1.7 million in 2025.

Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars over the past decade to expand infrastructure in Mecca and surrounding holy sites, including transportation networks, tents in Mina, cooling systems, healthcare facilities, and crowd-control measures aimed at preventing deadly stampedes and heat-related emergencies that have occurred during previous Hajj seasons.

Health authorities have also issued warnings to pilgrims to remain hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, as temperatures in the region are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius during parts of the pilgrimage.

Muslims across the world closely follow the Hajj season each year, which remains one of the largest annual religious gatherings globally and a major spiritual event for the Islamic community.