Saudi Arabia: Hajj 2026 reaches its spiritual peak as millions of Muslim pilgrims gather

The spiritual peak of this year’s hajj pilgrimage took place on Mount Arafat on Tuesday, where worshippers dressed in white robes stood side by side in prayer and reflection on the rocky hill and surrounding plain. In Islamic tradition, the site is believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. As temperatures rose across the holy sites, Saudi authorities deployed extensive security, medical and emergency services to manage the crowds and protect pilgrims during the gathering. In Mecca, worshippers also filled the Grand Mosque to perform the Tawaf, circling the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise as part of the pilgrimage rites. Aerial images showed dense crowds of pilgrims moving continuously around Islam’s holiest site inside the vast mosque complex. Saudi Arabia has invested billions of euros in recent years to expand transport networks, cooling systems, and crowd management infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims attending the hajj each year. The pilgrimage will conclude with celebrations marking Eid al-Adha and the symbolic stoning rite in Mina, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.