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EXPLAINED: Mecca | Rare Historical Photos

Hajj pilgrimage becoming more dangerous due to global heating, report warns

Climate change is gradually narrowing the window in which the annual hajj Muslim pilgrimage can take place safely, according to new research by the World Weather Attribution group published on Friday.

Radio France Internationale

Global heating is making hajj ever more dangerous, report finds

Rising heat in Saudi Arabia threatens millions of Muslim pilgrims – but cutting fossil fuels would keep it safer

The Guardian - UK

Clay pot buried by Mecca pilgrim found to contain gold, silver and gem-encrusted jewellery

Geometrical patterns on 8th-century jewellery indicate they were crafted by skilled metalworkers

The Independent UK

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1,200-year-old gold hoard discovered in Saudi Arabia may have been buried by a medieval pilgrim

Archaeologists have unearthed a 1,200-year-old hoard of gold, silver and gemstones that was buried along a medieval pilgrimage route in Saudi Arabia.

LiveScience

Kaaba and Kiswah explained: What lies inside Islam’s holiest site

As the annual Hajj pilgrimage began on Monday, more than 1.5 million Muslims from around the world gathered in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the sacred journey that forms one of the five pillars of Islam.

The Times of India

Muslim worshippers defy blistering heat for Hajj pilgrimage at Mount Arafat

More than 1.7 million Muslims gathered for this year's climax of the hajj pilgrimage, enduring scorching desert heat on Tuesday to fulfill a lifelong religious duty. Pilgrims prayed under temperatures topping 44°C, while Saudi authorities deployed extensive heat measures after last year’s deadly conditions.

France 24

Drones help shield hajj pilgrims from extreme heat

MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia - With temperatures hitting 45C in Mecca this week, Saudi health workers have increasingly relied on drones to supply a vast array of medical clinics treating heat-stressed pilgrims during the hajj.

Bangkok Post

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Saudi Arabia: Hajj 2026 reaches its spiritual peak as millions of Muslim pilgrims gather

Saudi Arabia entered the most significant stage of the 2026 hajj on 26 May as millions of pilgrims dressed in white gathered at Mount Arafat near Mecca and circled the Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque.

Euronews

More than 1.5m Muslim pilgrims begin hajj as Iran peace deal hangs in the balance

Despite the uncertainty triggered by the Iran war, Saudi officials noted over the weekend that more pilgrims had travelled from abroad to participate in this year’s hajj than in 2025.

Euronews

The sacred cloth at the center of the Hajj pilgrimage

As Muslims gather for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, they will circle around the “Kaaba,” a black cube draped in gold-embroidered cloth. A ceremonial textile – known as the “kiswah” – covers the Kaaba, around which Muslims will walk seven times in a ritual known as…

The Conversation

Muslims begin Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca amid war threat

The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, has begun with more than 1.5 million pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia from outside the nation.

AAP

Iranians find 'peace and safety' in Mecca during hajj

MECCA (SAUDI ARABIA) - Being in Mecca has been nothing short of blissful for Hassan Qadiri, where participating in the festivities of the hajj pilgrimage is a welcome relief after weeks of devastating war back home in Iran.

Bangkok Post

Pilgrims kick off hajj as war's trajectory hangs in the balance

Over 1.5 million Muslims have converged in Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage. This significant religious event unfolds against a backdrop of regional conflict and hopes for peace. Pilgrims from across the globe are participating, with Saudi Arabia enhancing security measures. The hajj rituals are underway, drawing worshippers to holy…

The Economic Times

With ice cream and giant fans, Hajj pilgrims battle searing heat

To avoid the punishing sun, Inas Gamal abandoned her ambitious plan of spending the days ahead of the hajj praying in Mecca's Grand Mosque and retreated to the comfort of an air-conditioned hotel room to perform her daytime prayers. "I had planned to perform all my prayers at the Grand…

The Economic Times

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France 24

Hajj pilgrims battle Mecca's scorching heat with ice cream and giant fans

More than a million worshippers gathered in Mecca on Monday for the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Islam's holiest city, but the harsh heat has been brutal for many attendees. This week’s daytime temperatures will hover between 42 and 47 degrees Celsius, according to Saudi Arabian officials, and some pilgrims…

France 24

Despite Middle East war, foreign pilgrims flock to Mecca for Hajj

Despite the war in the Middle East, foreign pilgrims have flocked to Mecca to participate in this year’s Hajj. According to officials, more than 1.5 million have already arrived in Saudi Arabia, surpassing last year’s numbers.

The Independent UK

Photos of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca

Muslims from around the world gather in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, as heightened regional tensions linked to the war involving Iran cast a shadow over this year’s gathering at Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia.

The Economic Times

Saudi Arabia to resume Umrah visa services from May 31; announces 2026-27 pilgrimage dates

Saudi Arabia has unveiled the Umrah calendar for the 2026-27 season, resuming visa issuance on May 31, 2026. Pilgrims can enter Mecca from June 1, 2026, with visa issuance closing on March 9, 2027, and final departures set for April 7, 2027. Permits are mandatory via the Nusuk app for…

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The Independent UK

US issues travel warnings for Middle East ahead of Trump’s Iran war deadline

President has warned of attacks on Iranian infrastructure starting at 8 pm ET on Tuesday

Euronews

Pilgrims may soon fly directly to Mecca as airport plans take off

Plans for a new airport and metro system aim to improve access for the many pilgrims that visit Mecca annually, and ease travel within the holy city.

The Times of India

Watch viral video: Clever pigeon hacks water sensor to drink Zamzam in Mecca

A video from Mecca shows a pigeon cleverly using its body to activate a Zamzam water cooler. The bird then drinks the sacred water, delighting worshippers. This unusual moment has gone viral online. Pigeons are a common sight in Mecca but this interaction with technology has sparked widespread admiration and…

Times Life

7 Historic Empires Richer Than the Mughals You Probably Didn’t Learn About

When history recalls the wealthiest empires of the world, the Mughal Empire often features prominently for its opulent courts, monumental architecture, and dominance in the Indian subcontinent. At its peak around the 17th century, the Mughal Empire controlled about 24 % of the world’s economy, making it one of the…

The Times of India

Mecca museum unveils legendary Blue Quran: Viral pictures of 1,100-year-old masterpiece with Surah Al-Baqarah verses break the Internet

The Holy Quran Museum in Mecca has unveiled a rare folio from the legendary ‘Blue Quran’, a 9th-century manuscript renowned for its deep blue parchment and gold ink. This significant exhibit highlights the rich history of Islamic calligraphy and manuscript art, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's role in safeguarding global religious heritage.

The Times of India

Makkah hailstorm alert: Heavy rain and strong winds forecast across Saudi Arabia

The National Center for Meteorology issued an urgent alert for Makkah, forecasting intense winter storms with moderate to heavy thunderstorms, hail, and 60 km/h winds. Flash flood risks are high in valleys and low-lying areas, with rough seas expected along the Red Sea coast. Authorities urge extreme caution, especially for…

The Times of India

Epstein Files: 3 sacred pieces of Kaaba cloth, Kiswa, shipped from Saudi Arabia's Mecca via UAE contacts to Jeffrey Epstein in US Virgin Islands

Shocking Epstein Files reveal three sacred Kiswa pieces from Makkah's Kaaba were shipped to the convicted sex offender in 2017. Arranged via UAE-linked contacts, the sacred cloth, described as 'artwork' for customs, has sparked outrage and debate over religious respect and the handling of holy artefacts. The motive behind the…

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