More than 1.5 million pilgrims performed the Rukn al-Akbar, the main pillar of Hajj, at Jabal al-Rahmah in the plain of Arafat [1].
The event marks the spiritual peak of the Islamic pilgrimage, but the scale of the gathering combined with record-high temperatures created significant health and safety risks for participants.
Pilgrims gathered at the Mount of Mercy, known as Jabal al-Rahmah, to fulfill the essential rites of the pilgrimage [1]. The gathering took place during the 2024 Hajj period in mid-July 2024 [1].
Environmental conditions were severe, with maximum temperatures reaching about 44°C [1]. Because of these record-high temperatures, Saudi authorities issued specific safety instructions to the crowds to prevent heat-related illnesses [1].
Among the millions of participants were more than 30,000 Iranian pilgrims [1]. This number was significantly lower than the original forecast, which expected 86,000 Iranian nationals to attend the rites [1].
The Rukn al-Akbar is the most critical component of the Hajj, requiring pilgrims to spend the day in prayer and reflection at Arafat. The logistics of managing such a massive crowd under extreme thermal stress required extensive coordination by the Saudi government to ensure the movement of people, and the provision of emergency medical services.
“More than 1.5 million pilgrims performed the Rukn al-Akbar.”
The discrepancy between the 86,000 forecasted Iranian pilgrims and the more than 30,000 who actually attended suggests potential geopolitical or administrative hurdles in visa issuance or travel logistics. Additionally, the necessity for emergency safety instructions due to 44°C heat highlights the increasing challenge of managing mass religious gatherings in the face of rising global temperatures.
