Pilgrims fill Mina tent city as annual Hajj begins in Saudi Arabia

More than 1.5 million Muslims began the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Monday as pilgrims arrived in Mina, the sprawling tent city near the holy city of Makkah.

Pilgrims dressed in white garments travelled by buses and on foot after performing the “tawaf”, the ritual of circling the Kaaba seven times at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and draws Muslims from around the world each year.

This year’s pilgrimage is taking place amid ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East, as discussions continue over a possible extension of the ceasefire involving Iran and efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump has continued to issue statements regarding a possible agreement linked to regional tensions and maritime trade routes.

Despite concerns surrounding the regional situation, Saudi authorities said more pilgrims from abroad had arrived for this year’s Hajj compared to 2025.

The Saudi government has implemented extensive arrangements for transportation, accommodation, healthcare and crowd management to facilitate the pilgrimage.

Pilgrims are expected to spend the coming days performing key Hajj rituals at Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah before Eidul Azha celebrations begin.