Saudi Arabia has forecast an average high temperature of up to 48ºC in Makkah during the Hajj pilgrimage this month, according to meteorological services.
“The expected climate for Hajj this year is an increase in average temperatures of one and a half to two degrees above normal in Makkah and Madinah,” National Meteorology Centre chief Ayman Ghulam said on Tuesday.
He said afternoon temperatures could peak at 48ºC.
“We expect relative humidity of 25 per cent, and although we expect a low probability of rain during most days, there's some forecast of heavy rains in the high plains of Taif that may then make its way to the holy sites,” he said.
The meteorology services put the probability of rainfall during the Hajj season at 60 per cent.
The Hajj, which begins on June 14, is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims who have the means to do so.
It involves a series of rites – much of which takes place outdoors in the holy sites of Makkah and its surroundings – completed over four days.
Last year more than 1.8 million Muslims took part in the Hajj, according to official figures.
More than 2,000 people suffered heat stress, according to Saudi authorities, after temperatures soared to 48ºC last year.
Officials in the kingdom take steps to try to mitigate the effects of heat, including providing air-conditioned tents and misting systems.
“There is a need for sufficient quantities of water to cover daily consumption as temperatures rise,” Mr Ghulam said.
He also said food for pilgrims should be transported in refrigerators so it does not spoil.
This year’s Hajj is expected to be the last to officially take place during the summer season in Saudi Arabia. The Hajj begins almost two weeks earlier each year due to Islam’s following of the lunar calendar which lasts 354 days.
Saudi Arabia began a cloud-seeding programme two years ago with the first batch of flights over the regions of Riyadh, Qassim and Hail to increase rainfall in the country, which does not exceed 100 millimetres a year.
Under Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan to reform the kingdom’s economy, 30 million pilgrims would take part in the Hajj and Umrah – a smaller, year-round pilgrimage. That would be an increase of more than 10 million from average annual numbers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
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Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
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You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
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Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
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- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
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