More than 1.6 million Muslims from around the world have arrived in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, amid temperatures reaching 48 degrees Celsius and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
On 25 May 2026, Muslim pilgrims from various countries gathered in Mecca to prepare for the Hajj. Throughout the day, they performed prayers and religious activities at Al-Masjid al-Haram before proceeding to other sacred sites to continue rituals over the following days.
Many pilgrims said they had waited for this moment for years. Some had applied multiple times before being granted the chance to participate this year. Many expressed their joy and gratitude at having arrived in Mecca in person.
During the Hajj, pilgrims perform seven circuits around the Kaaba, known as Tawaf, then walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah before traveling to Mina. Afterwards, they proceed to Mount Arafat to stand in prayer and supplication, which is the central rite of Hajj. They then spend the night at Muzdalifah to collect pebbles, returning to Mina to symbolically throw stones to represent driving away evil.