Hajj Pilgrimage Begins Monday in Mecca as Muslims Prepare for Rituals After 1,300 Deaths in 2024
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 22
Hajj Pilgrimage Begins Monday in Mecca as Muslims Prepare for Rituals After 1,300 Deaths in 2024
11 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 22
Monday marks the official start of Hajj in Mecca, the annual pilgrimage that every Muslim who is physically and financially able must perform once.
The rites unfold during Dhul-Hijja and include entering ihram, circling the Kaaba seven times and gathering at Arafat for prayer, repentance and supplication.
Saudi Arabia faces renewed safety scrutiny after more than 1,300 people died during the 2024 Hajj heat, with authorities saying most victims were unauthorized pilgrims exposed to extreme temperatures.
This year’s pilgrimage also opens amid a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war after earlier regional travel disruption stranded some Muslims in Saudi Arabia during Umrah.
Eid al-Adha begins during Hajj on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijja, linking the pilgrimage to a global Muslim holiday commemorating Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
Does restricting Hajj access through official permits conflict with the religious duty for all able Muslims to attend?
After 1,300 heat-related deaths, can the ancient Hajj rituals survive the realities of modern climate change?
Will Saudi Arabia's new digital permits and baggage services prevent another mass casualty event during the Hajj?
Hajj 2024 Heat Catastrophe: Hundreds Dead, Climate Change and Unregistered Pilgrims Drive Urgent Reforms for Mass Gatherings
Overview
Saudi Arabia is introducing major reforms for the Hajj pilgrimage starting in 2025 to improve safety, accessibility, and organization. These changes include stricter entry requirements, a ban on children, and new visa policies. The traditional tawafa organizations are being replaced by modern, licensed hospitality companies, with new laws ensuring clearer accountability for essential services. These reforms aim to address past issues, such as the high number of deaths among unregistered pilgrims during extreme heat events, by enforcing strict permits and improving support for all participants. The changes reflect a commitment to safer and better-managed pilgrimages in the future.