Overview
- Saudi Arabia has barred 269,678 unlicensed pilgrims from entering Mecca and imposed fines up to $5,000 and deportation for permit violations.
- Over 1.4 million officially registered pilgrims had arrived in Mecca by June 2, with additional arrivals expected ahead of Hajj’s June 4 start.
- Authorities are deploying drones for crowd surveillance and fire control alongside smart wearable devices that track body temperature and heart rate.
- The Ministry of Health has mobilized 50,000 medical and administrative personnel and treated dozens of heatstroke cases as temperatures exceed 40°C.
- Last year’s Hajj saw 1,301 heat-related deaths, predominantly among unregistered pilgrims lacking access to air-conditioned shelters.