Hajj bids farewell to summer heat for next 25 years
This year's Hajj not only concluded a sacred spiritual journey for millions but also marked the final chapter of the pilgrimage's long association with searing summer temperatures.
According to Hussein Al-Qahtani, spokesperson for Saudi Arabia's National Center for Meteorology (NCM), Hajj will not return to the summer season for another 25 years.
In the meantime, the next eight pilgrimages will occur in the spring, followed by eight in winter and several more in autumn, as the Islamic lunar calendar gradually shifts the dates earlier each year. 'This natural cycle offers pilgrims a rare opportunity to perform Hajj in much cooler and more comfortable conditions for the foreseeable future,' Al-Qahtani explained.
This year, temperatures reached 42°C (108°F) — significantly lower than the dangerous 51.8°C (125°F) recorded in 2024, which severely affected pilgrims, especially those without permits. That year, more than 1.8 million Muslims participated, with quotas distributed by country and assigned through a lottery system.
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