Hajj heat exhaustion cases drop by 90% as over 1.67 million pilgrims complete rituals

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health announced Thursday a remarkable 90 percent decrease in heat exhaustion cases among pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj season, compared to last year.

The ministry credits the drop to targeted public health measures and increased coordination with other government agencies.

The ministry added that expanded shaded areas, distribution of cooling supplies, and multilingual awareness campaigns helped protect the millions of pilgrims performing rituals in intense summer heat. Medical teams and emergency units were deployed across major sites to ensure rapid response.

The ministry described the results as a direct outcome of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiatives, specifically the Health Sector Transformation Programme and the Pilgrim Experience Programme, both aimed at improving safety and comfort for Hajj participants.

Last year, thousands suffered heat-related illnesses during Hajj, raising global concerns about managing large crowds in extreme weather. This year’s sharp decline, the ministry says, demonstrates the impact of stronger preventive action.

“Our efforts have enabled pilgrims to perform their rituals safely and comfortably,” the ministry said.

According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj in 2025. Of these, 1,506,576 were international pilgrims arriving through various entry points, while 166,654 were domestic pilgrims, including both citizens and residents.

GASTAT data showed that men accounted for 877,841 of all pilgrims, with 795,389 women participating. Among international pilgrims, 1,435,017 arrived by air, 66,465 by land, and 5,094 by sea.

The authority noted that these figures were compiled using administrative records from the Ministry of Interior, providing what it described as highly accurate and reliable Hajj statistics.

Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE