Over 1.8 million pilgrims arrive in Makkah as annual Hajj rituals begin

MAKKAH – The annual Hajj pilgrimage officially began as more than 1.8 million Muslims from around the world gathered in the holy city of Makkah to perform one of Islam’s most sacred religious obligations. The pilgrims started arriving in Mina on last night to begin the first major ritual of Hajj, marking the start of a spiritual journey that brings together Muslims from across the globe every year. According to reports, the worshippers from dozens of countries traveled to Saudi Arabia to offer Hajj, with authorities implementing extensive arrangements to facilitate the smooth movement and safety of pilgrims. The pilgrims will stay in Mina until the Fajr prayer on the 9th of Zil-Hajj before proceeding to the plains of Arafat, where they will perform Wuquf-e-Arafat, considered the central pillar of Hajj. During their stay in Arafat, pilgrims will offer Zuhr and Asr prayers together and listen to the Hajj sermon at Masjid-e-Nimrah. After sunset, the pilgrims will leave for Muzdalifah without offering Maghrib prayer, which will later be combined with Isha prayers in Muzdalifah according to the way regarding the performance of the Hajj. The Saudi authorities have deployed thousands of personnel and introduced enhanced services and crowd management measures to accommodate the massive influx of pilgrims arriving from around the world for this year’s Hajj. Hajj 2026: Relief for Pilgrims as Saudi Arabia restores previous Age Policy