More than 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims have started gathering in Makkah as the annual Haj pilgrimage officially began, while Saudi authorities intensified security and crowd management measures around the holy sites.
Pilgrims from across the world, many dressed in traditional white Ihram clothing, arrived in the tent city of Mina by buses and on foot after performing Tawaf at the Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Grand Mosque.
The pilgrimage this year comes amid heightened regional security concerns following recent tensions and attacks in parts of the Middle East. Saudi authorities have therefore strengthened security operations across Makkah and surrounding holy sites to ensure the safety of millions of worshippers.
Images released during the preparations showed Saudi security officers guiding pilgrims around the Grand Mosque to reduce overcrowding and maintain smooth movement during the pilgrimage rituals.
Additional photographs also showed Saudi security personnel participating in military drills, parade exercises and readiness demonstrations ahead of the main Haj rituals. Authorities deployed large numbers of officers around Makkah to monitor crowd movement, maintain order and respond quickly to emergencies if required.
Security personnel were also seen stationed at various entry and gathering points around the holy sites as pilgrims continued arriving in large numbers.
The visual coverage highlighted the scale of preparations undertaken by Saudi authorities to manage one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.
One of the images also captured the sunset over the plain of Arafat, one of the most important locations associated with the Haj pilgrimage where pilgrims gather for prayers and reflection during the key rites of Haj.
Saudi Arabia organizes extensive security, transportation, healthcare and crowd-control arrangements every year to facilitate millions of pilgrims visiting the holy cities during Haj.
Officials continue to monitor pilgrim movement closely as the annual pilgrimage proceeds under heightened security and operational preparedness.
