The Saudi National Meteorological Center has officially announced that the upcoming Hajj in 2025 will be the last to occur during the intense summer heat for more than a decade. Due to the lunar calendar’s nature—shifting about 10 days earlier each year—the annual Islamic pilgrimage will begin to fall in progressively cooler seasons starting in 2026. Over the next several years, Hajj will transition from the extreme summer months into the milder spring season and eventually into winter, providing long-awaited relief for millions of pilgrims from around the world.
This calendar shift is expected to significantly ease the environmental burden on those participating in the pilgrimage. In recent years, Hajj has often taken place in the sweltering Saudi summer. For example, during the 2024 pilgrimage, Mecca experienced dangerously high temperatures ranging from 46°C to 51°C (114°F to 124°F). These extreme conditions led to over 2,760 reported cases of heatstroke and several heat-related deaths within just one day, raising global concerns about the safety of pilgrims exposed to such weather.
According to projections from the Saudi National Meteorological Center, the Hajj pilgrimage will fall during the spring season from the years 2026 through 2033. Following that, the event will shift into the cooler winter season, spanning from 2034 until 2041. The pilgrimage will then return to the hot summer months in 2042, initiating another nine-year stretch of warmer-weather pilgrimages. This cyclical pattern is driven entirely by the lunar Hijri calendar, which governs Islamic rituals and holidays.
In anticipation of continued climate challenges, Saudi authorities have been proactive in introducing a range of safety measures to protect pilgrims from extreme heat. These include constructing large shaded areas throughout key pilgrimage sites, installing thousands of additional water stations, deploying mobile cooling units, and launching public awareness campaigns focused on heat safety and hydration. The goal is to minimize heat-related illnesses and fatalities during the pilgrimage season.
Further strengthening its readiness, the Kingdom made notable technological advancements in 2024 by installing 33 new weather monitoring stations across various Hajj locations. These stations, along with an expanded network of mobile radar units, now provide real-time weather data to support emergency planning and improve climate response strategies. These improvements aim to help authorities make quicker, more informed decisions during Hajj operations.
As the world looks ahead to Hajj 2025, which is expected to attract around 1.8 million pilgrims, Saudi Arabia is preparing for what is anticipated to be the final major summer pilgrimage for the next 16 years. Many see this transition as a welcome turning point—towards a future where the Hajj experience is not only spiritually fulfilling but also safer, cooler, and more sustainable for generations to come.
READ MORE: Hajj 2025 Saudi Visa Applications Open, Government Launches Pak Hajj App
