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Millions pray at Arafat under scorching heat as Saudi enforces stricter hajj safety protocols

Saudi authorities have deployed tens of thousands of medical staff, AI-driven drones, strict permit checks and heat shelters to prevent casualties at Mount Arafat.

Le village de tentes de Mina qui accueille près de La Mecque les fidèles affluant pour le grand pèlerinage musulman du hajj, le 1er juin 2025
Des pèlerins prient sur le mont Arafat, au deuxième jour du hajj, le 5 juin 2025

Overview

  • Over 1.5 million pilgrims gathered Thursday at Mount Arafat for the hajj’s pivotal ritual under temperatures exceeding 40 °C.
  • Officials urged all pilgrims to remain in shaded tents from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to reduce the risk of heatstroke during the peak day.
  • More than 50,000 healthcare workers, 71 mobile emergency units and over 400 fresh water stations have been mobilized across Mecca and its environs.
  • An AI-powered crowd-monitoring system and a new fleet of drones are actively managing pilgrim flows and identifying heat-related emergencies.
  • Authorities have barred nearly 270,000 unauthorized pilgrims at checkpoints, doubling fines to 20,000 rials and imposing ten-year bans for violations.