More than 1.5 million Muslims are expected to gather this Tuesday on Mount Arafat, the central stop on the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities are bracing for extreme heat, with temperatures potentially exceeding 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) on this day, considered the most important moment of the pilgrimage.
Located about twenty kilometers from Mecca, Mount Arafat is the place where, according to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon. The "Standing at Arafat" is an essential part of the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, for those who are able to undertake it.
Strengthened measures to address heat-related risks
Faced with the health risks associated with high temperatures, Saudi authorities have stepped up prevention campaigns to avoid heatstroke and heat-related illnesses among pilgrims, particularly the elderly. Water distribution points, shaded areas, and enhanced medical facilities have been set up around religious sites.
The Hajj is taking place this year in a particularly tense regional context marked by the war in the Gaza Strip. Saudi authorities have warned that no political slogans will be tolerated during the pilgrimage, as hundreds of thousands of faithful flock to the holy sites for several days of religious rites and prayers.
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