Over a million Muslims pray on Mount Arafat during the pilgrimage to Mecca, at temperatures exceeding 45°C. Medical teams are prepared for interventions.

More than a million and a half Muslims gather on Mount Arafat, a crucial moment of the pilgrimage to Mecca, at temperatures that will exceed 45°C. Since morning, the faithful have gathered to pray and recite the Quran around this 70-meter high hill, located 20 kilometers from Mecca, where the prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon. Pilgrims, like engineer Ahmad Abou Elezz, feel a deep emotion, even in difficult conditions, exposed to the scorching sun.

Medical teams are ready to intervene in case of emergency, and volunteers distribute umbrellas to provide some protection. The pilgrims will then head to Muzdalifah to collect stones for the 'stoning of the devil' ritual. This year, the pilgrimage coincides with the intensification of negotiations between the United States and Iran, adding a note of uncertainty in the regional context. The pilgrimage, a fundamental pillar of Islam, is an obligation for all Muslims who have the means to fulfill it. Saudi Arabia benefits annually from billions of dollars from this sacred event.