Hajj 2026: Pilgrims Flood Mina Site

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have flocked to Mina, Saudi Arabia, for the "Tarwiyah" day, marking the official commencement of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The site of Mina, located east of Mecca, hosts the world's largest seasonal tent city, capable of accommodating over 2.6 million pilgrims across 2.5 million square meters.

Saudi authorities have announced a large-scale logistical and operational deployment, expressing full readiness for the pilgrimage season. This year's event features significant development projects focused on enhancing pilgrim comfort. Improvements include expanded shaded areas, larger rest spaces, and optimized pedestrian pathways. New, modernized accommodations have also been built near the Jamarat, the stoning of the devil site.

Organizationally, crowd management is being bolstered by advanced digital solutions and intelligent surveillance networks. These systems aim to regulate the flow of pilgrims between holy sites in real-time. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has finalized preparations by training specialized personnel. Over 30,000 agents are prepared to operate field technologies, supported by 600 regulation officers and 5,000 squad leaders tasked with guiding pilgrim groups.