Hajj 2025: What to know about safety, costs, and new rules

Mecca, Saudi Arabia – Muslims worldwide are gathering in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. This important religious event, one of Islam's Five Pillars, involves rituals dating back over 1,400 years. However, this year's Hajj comes with challenges, including extreme heat, a ban on young children, and measures against unauthorized entry.

Heat concerns

Last year, high temperatures caused over 1,300 deaths during the Hajj. Temperatures reached 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit). Saudi authorities are advising pilgrims to avoid direct sunlight, stay covered, and wear light clothing. They also provided safety kits with information on dehydration and heat exhaustion. Despite these efforts, avoiding heat and crowds is difficult. Temperatures are already around 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit).

Children banned

Saudi Arabia has banned children under 12 from participating in this year's Hajj. Officials say this is to protect children from the dangers of large crowds. While children are not required to perform Hajj until puberty, some parents want them to experience it. Talha Ayub, a father from Lahore, Pakistan, said his children are staying with relatives while he and his wife perform Hajj. “Even if children were allowed, we probably wouldn’t have taken them because the weather is extremely harsh this year,” said Ayub.

Costs and waiting lists

The cost of Hajj ranges from $4,000 to $20,000, depending on various factors. Some countries are trying to lower costs to make it more affordable. Zaheer Ahmad, a business owner from Pakistan, used a payment plan to afford his trip. He said, “Otherwise, I might not have been able to go for Hajj at all.”

Many Muslim-majority countries have long waiting lists for Hajj. Indonesia has 5.4 million people waiting. Some countries, like India, ban repeat pilgrims to give others a chance.

Farid Ahmed Majumder, secretary general of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, said the country was allowed to send some 127,000 pilgrims this year but failed to meet this quota, mainly because of higher costs.

Pakistan has reduced the price of the state-run Hajj program. It has also debuted a flexible payment system.

Zaheer Ahmad, a business owner from Pakistan, used a payment plan to afford his trip.

He paid in three installments, applying for the Hajj in December with an advance and finishing his payments in February. “Otherwise, I might not have been able to go for Hajj at all,” he said.

In Saudi Arabia, which has also introduced flexible payments, domestic pilgrims pay 20% within 72 hours of booking, another 40% during Ramadan and the final 40% the following month.

Unauthorized pilgrimages

Saudi Arabia is working to prevent unauthorized Hajj pilgrimages. In April, the country suspended short-term visas for 14 countries to control travel. Authorities stated that many who died from heat last year were unregistered and lacked access to facilities. The Interior Ministry has warned of fines up to $5,330 for entering Mecca without a proper visa.

India has a ban on “repeaters” and excludes applications from anyone who has previously performed the pilgrimage through the national Hajj committee, although there are exceptions from those accompanying certain categories of people like the elderly.

With a restricted supply of Hajj spaces, it's inevitable that people will try to find ways to get to the holy city and stay there.

In April, to curb unauthorized Hajj pilgrimages and control inbound travel, Saudi Arabia suspended the issue of short-term visas for 14 countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco.

People have in the past traveled to Saudi Arabia on short-term visas and entered Mecca without official permission for the Hajj. Authorities said that many of those who died in the heat during last year's Hajj were unregistered and unable to access air-conditioned pilgrim amenities.

The Interior Ministry warned in May that a fine of up to 20,000 riyals, or about $5,330, would be imposed on anyone attempting to enter Mecca during the Hajj without the correct visa.

(With inputs from AP)