Saudi authorities on Tuesday urged pilgrims to remain inside their tents during the daytime on Arafat Day, which falls on Thursday, amid expected rising temperatures.
According to local media, Minister of Hajj Tawfiq al-Rabiah advised pilgrims not to leave their tents between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Arafat Day, considered the most important day of the Hajj pilgrimage.
On this day, pilgrims gather on the 70-meter high hill and in the surrounding plains for hours of prayers and Quran recitation, remaining there until the evening.
The location is nearly devoid of shade, exposing pilgrims to the direct scorching sun for prolonged periods.
In a separate statement reported by Saudi media, the Ministry of Health warned against “climbing mountains or heights on Arafat Day,” citing the extreme physical strain that can increase the risk of heat stress.
Hajj rituals will officially commence on Wednesday, during one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world, with forecasts predicting temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Saudi authorities have enhanced measures to mitigate the effects of extreme heat, aiming to avoid a repeat of last year’s disaster, when 1,301 pilgrims died as temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius.
Al-Rabiah told AFP last week that shaded areas have expanded by approximately 50,000 square meters, while thousands of medical personnel have been put on standby, along with the deployment of over 400 cooling units during the pilgrimage days.
The Kingdom has mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 employees in intensified efforts to combat the risks of heat stress following the deadly heatwave experienced in the 2024 season.
According to authorities, the number of incoming pilgrims to the Kingdom had surpassed 1.4 million by Sunday.
