The Government of Saudi Arabia has announced the sighting of the crescent moon which marks May 28th as the first day of Dhul Hijjah, also marking the start of the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage.
This year, Arafat Day will fall on June 5, while Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on June 6th.
The date was announced by the supreme court in a statement carried by the official Saudi press agency on Tuesday.
At a press conference on Monday, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, Saudi Arabia’s hajj minister, said that just over a million pilgrims from across the world had already arrived in the country.1.8 million Muslims took part in the hajj ritual last year according to official figures.
The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims who are able to.
The date of the pilgrimage is governed by the Islamic lunar calendar, meaning that it shifts each year. In recent years it has taken place during Saudi Arabia’s scorching summer months.
In 2024, temperatures peaked at 51.8 Celsius and more than 1,300 people died in the June sun, according to the authorities.
Worshippers take part in four days of ceremonies, with the high point coming on the second day with mass outdoor prayers on Mount Arafat, the hill where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his last sermon.
