Saudi Arabia: 1.5 million join Hajj pilgrimage despite war

This year is the first time that Saudi Arabia has chosen to go ahead with the annual Hajj pilgrimage while it is also in the middle of a war that has seen direct strikes on Saudi territory. The Hajj is a once-a-year event that draws millions of Muslims to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform rituals that every believer is supposed to carry out at least once in their lives, if they are able to. It is one of the largest gatherings of humans worldwide, and this year's Hajj runs between May 25 and May 2

Over the past three years, between 1.7 and 1.8 million have attended. Historians say that over 14 centuries, the Hajj has only ever been canceled or restricted about 40 times; the last time that happened was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Having more than a million pilgrims descend upon one place to perform the same ritual in under a week has always been a complex logistical exercise . It has involved Saudi Arabia restricting crowds with a ticket lottery system for international pilgrims, tight security at pilgrimage sites, flights, accommodation, food and water and medical care, and all that amid high temperatures that have proven deadly in the past. Many pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia days or even weeks before the Hajj rituals take place Image: Esra Hacioglu/Anadolu/picture alliance This year that exercise is being complicated by the Iran war , which began in late February when the US and Israel attacked Iran. Iran has responded by targeting the Gulf states, along with Israel. There is a ceasefire in effect at the moment but it remains unclear how steady that is. Last weekend, Saudi Arabia intercepted three drones it says were likely launched by pro-Iran militias in Iraq. 2026 also marks the first time the US government has urged its own citizens to reconsider participating in the pilgrimage, noting that "non-emergency US government employees were ordered to leave Saudi Arabia" in early March. Germany, the United Kingdom and other European nations have also issued travel warnings for Saudi Arabia, strongly advising citizens against going there during the current conflict or if they do, then to monitor the situation closely. Several travel agencies in Germany that specialize in Hajj travel did not reply to DW's inquiries about how would-be pilgrims were reacting to those sorts of warnings. But as Germany's Central Council of Muslims pointed out, in their experience pilgrims are often unaffected by current events.

Key points

• Over the past three years, between 1.7 and 1.8 million have attended.
• Historians say that over 14 centuries, the Hajj has only ever been canceled or restricted about 40 times; the last time that happened was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
• Having more than a million pilgrims descend upon one place to perform the same ritual in under a week has always been a complex logistical exercise .
• It has involved Saudi Arabia restricting crowds with a ticket lottery system for international pilgrims, tight security at pilgrimage sites, flights, accommodation, food and water and medical care,…
• Many pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia days or even weeks before the Hajj rituals take place Image: Esra Hacioglu/Anadolu/picture alliance This year that exercise is being complicated by the Iran war…