Nearly 1.8 million Muslim pilgrims on Tuesday converged on the plains of Mount Arafat in western Saudi Arabia to perform the most significant ritual of the annual Hajj pilgrimage amid extensive security and organisational arrangements by Saudi authorities.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, pilgrim convoys moved smoothly from Mina to Arafat under close monitoring by security forces deployed along roads and pedestrian routes to regulate crowd movement and ensure safety.
At Arafat, pilgrims offered combined and shortened midday and afternoon prayers at Namirah Mosque, while spending hours in prayer, worship and reflection. The site holds deep religious significance in Islam and is believed to be where Prophet Muhammad delivered his Farewell Sermon during his final pilgrimage.
Following sunset, pilgrims are scheduled to travel to Muzdalifah, where they will perform sunset and night prayers before staying overnight until dawn as part of the Hajj rites.
Hajj rituals officially began on Monday as pilgrims arrived in Mina under heightened security measures and expanded services aimed at facilitating the six-day pilgrimage season.
The pilgrimage also includes overnight stays in Muzdalifah, the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina and the farewell circumambulation of the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
The rituals commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family and symbolise core principles of the Islamic faith.
Saudi authorities have further strengthened arrangements for the 2026 Hajj season through advanced surveillance technologies and crowd-monitoring systems designed to manage pilgrim movement and prevent unauthorised access to holy sites.
