Saudi Arabia has officially announced that the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca will begin on June 4, 2025, following the sighting of the crescent moon that marks the start of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijjah.
The Saudi Supreme Court confirmed the dates in a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) late Tuesday. According to the announcement, Arafat Day, the most significant day of the pilgrimage, will fall on June 5, while Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, will be observed the following day on June 6.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, revealed that over one million pilgrims from around the world have already arrived in the Kingdom ahead of this year’s pilgrimage.
Last year, official figures recorded 1.8 million pilgrims undertaking the Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars of faith and a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able to perform it.
The timing of the Hajj, determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, changes annually and has in recent years coincided with Saudi Arabia’s intense summer heat. In 2024, temperatures soared to 51.8°C (125°F), resulting in the deaths of over 1,300 pilgrims, according to authorities.
The pilgrimage spans four days of rituals, including the symbolic stoning of the devil, the circling of the Kaaba, and prayers at sacred sites around Mecca. The most spiritually significant moment comes on Arafat Day, when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat, believed to be the site of Prophet Muhammad’s final sermon.
With millions of Muslims expected to converge on Mecca, authorities have ramped up preparations to ensure safety, manage crowd control, and address health risks posed by extreme heat.
