The government of Saudi Arabia have urged pilgrims that are undergoing the 2025 Hajj to stay indoors as a result of the extreme heat that has permeated Mecca City.

Hajj Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah advised pilgrims, many of whom are from different nations in the world, to refrain from leaving their tents between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on Thursday.

The “Day of Arafat” traditionally marks the high point of the hajj, when pilgrims scale Mount Arafat on the outskirts of Mecca.

There, pilgrims assemble on the 70-metre (230-foot) high hill and its surrounding plain for hours of prayer and Koran recitation, staying there until the evening.

In a statement, the Saudi Health Ministry stated, “We warn against climbing mountains or high places on the Day of Arafat, as it causes extreme physical exertion and increases the risk of heat exhaustion.”

The global temperature is on the rise in recent periods, and that of the Middle States are even more precarious due to their geographical location.