The Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has announced a remarkable 90 percent decrease in heat exhaustion cases among pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj season, compared to last year.
The ministry said the drop was as a result of efficient 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.
Togolese woman gives birth to baby on Arafat day
Meanwhile, the Togolese woman who gave birth to a bouncing baby on Arafat day is hale and hearty with the baby. The woman was among the 2,443 pilgrims from 100 countries hosted as part of the Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visitation, run by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance.
All guests in the programme settled into their accommodations at Arafat in an atmosphere of comfort and security, benefiting from an integrated suite of services and round-the-clock care provided by the ministry in cooperation with other state agencies.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs said it had mobilised all available human and technical resources to ensure pilgrims could perform their rituals with ease, in line with the directives of the Saudi leadership.
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