Photos: Annual Hajj pilgrimage begins in Saudi Arabia

Pilgrims circle Kaaba as they perform Tawaf at the Grand Mosque, ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, will start on Friday with well over one million Muslims from around the world expected to take part.

Last year the Hajj drew more than 1.8 million pilgrims, according to official figures, after authorities lifted pandemic-era restrictions and scrapped age limits.

Muslim worshippers touch the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca.

All Muslims are expected to complete the Hajj to Mecca from which non-Muslims are strictly banned at least once in their lives if they have the means to do so.

Believers converge on the holy city for several days of rituals in which they retrace the last pilgrimage of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

The first ritual requires walking seven times around the Kaaba, the large black cubic structure at the centre of Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

Made from granite and draped in a heavily embroidered cloth featuring verses of the Quran, the Kaaba stands nearly 15 metres (50 feet) tall.

The climax of the Hajj is the gathering on Mount Arafat, about 10 kilometres (six miles) from Mina, where it is believed the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) delivered his final sermon.

The last major ritual of the Hajj is back at Mina, where pilgrims throw seven stones at each of three concrete walls representing Satan.

Saudi security forces take part in a military parade as pilgrims arrive for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.