Arafat Day begins as over 1.6 million Hajj pilgrims enter sacred phase
Authorities intensify crowd measures for safe movement between holy locations
DUBAI/MECCA – Hajj pilgrims on Tuesday began arriving at the sacred plain of Arafat to perform the most significant ritual of the annual pilgrimage, marking the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah after spending the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina.
The movement towards Arafat signals the start of the most spiritually profound stage of Hajj, where worshippers devote the day to prayer, reflection and supplication.
Pilgrims are expected to remain in Arafat until sunset, combining and shortening Dhuhr and Asr prayers while increasing acts of worship before continuing to Muzdalifah later in the evening. For many Muslims, standing at Arafat represents the spiritual pinnacle of the pilgrimage.
Heat advisory
As temperatures remain high, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah urged pilgrims to stay inside their Arafat camps until 4pm to minimise exposure to direct sunlight during peak heat hours and reduce the risk of heat stress.
What’s the weather like today in Makkah, Madinah, and the Holy Sites? #Hajj1447AH pic.twitter.com/zlo4x5GRG9
— Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (@MoHU_En) May 26, 2026
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Arafah Day sermon will be transmitted live through audio and visual channels directly to camps, enabling pilgrims to follow proceedings without leaving their designated areas.
Safety measures
Authorities also called on worshippers to strictly follow approved dispatch schedules and movement plans, warning against entering traffic routes or unauthorised areas that could affect crowd flow between pilgrimage sites.
The ministry further advised pilgrims not to climb Jabal Al Rahmah, citing safety concerns and the potential impact on crowd management operations. Officials said adherence to guidelines would support a smoother and more organised pilgrimage experience.
Hajj 2026
Saudi authorities confirmed that 1,518,153 foreign pilgrims had arrived for Hajj this year, representing an increase of around 0.8 per cent compared with last year. With hundreds of thousands of domestic pilgrims also participating, the total gathering has now exceeded 1.6 million.
The annual pilgrimage, Islam’s fifth pillar, spans five to six days and brings together Muslims from across the world for one of the largest religious gatherings on the planet.