RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has unveiled an extensive set of measures ahead of Hajj 2025 to protect millions of pilgrims from extreme temperatures during the pilgrimage, with the annual pilgrimage set to take place in June.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the Hajj Awareness Centre, has started a countrywide campaign to educate pilgrims on how to be safe in high temperatures.
A safety guide issued by the ministry advised pilgrims to avoid unnecessary sun exposure, remain hydrated, and stay in covered areas. It also urged them to use umbrellas and head coverings during peak sunlight hours.
Saudi authorities have already implemented cooling systems across key sites, including the Grand Mosque, to fight the extreme heat.
Additional measures include the installation of air-conditioned tents in Mina and Arafat, the introduction of wearable sensors to monitor heat stress, and enhanced crowd management strategies.
Authorities have also applied white cooling materials to roads near the holy sites to lower surface temperatures and will be distributing water and umbrellas at designated relief stations.
These initiatives are part of a comprehensive effort to ensure a safer, more comfortable experience for pilgrims.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage is scheduled to take place in June. This year, around 90,000 Pakistanis are set to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme, while 23,620 will perform Hajj through private tour operators.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Tuesday started the process of vaccinating intending Hajj pilgrims against meningitis, flu, and polio.
Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Monday said that the Ministry has made the best arrangements for the pilgrimage and emphasised that there will be zero tolerance for any shortcomings.
He announced that Saudi Arabia has approved an additional 10,000 slots for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims under the private Hajj scheme.
Pakistan will start Hajj flight operations from April 29, with the first flight leaving from the country’s second second-largest city and cultural hub, Lahore.
In January, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj Agreement 2025, under which Pakistan was allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims, to be equally divided between the government and private Hajj schemes.
