Each year, many pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat in order to perform the most significant act of worship in Hajj. The praying takes place outdoors for several hours and, at times, under very hot conditions. The physical strain is immense. Saudi Arabia now faces this challenge with massive infrastructure projects.
In this regard, the Royal Commission for Mecca City and Holy Sites have completed the second phase of the Mount Arafat shading and cooling project in anticipation of the 2026 Hajj season. It is evident that there has been a huge increase in efforts by Saudi Arabia towards ensuring the welfare of pilgrims visiting Mount Arafat.
Phase Two Provides a Five-Fold Increase in Size
The magnitude of Phase Two is significant. Comparison between the two phases shows that the shading and cooling system for Mount Arafat will ensure shading and cooling of the region in an area exceeding 272,000 square meters. This is five times what was done last year.
This phase alone sees the addition of 18 large canopies complete with 36 misting fans. Seven cooling stations and 107 misting fan columns were also added to the extended area. Together, these form an environmental-controlled space that makes things comfortable for the pilgrims undertaking the difficult Wuquf exercise.
Phase two came about because of careful planning. As opposed to rolling out everything in phase one, the Saudi government made it possible for the engineers to evaluate and see how things are working. This way, they would be able to make improvements and build on them.
This way, the authorities were able to make sure that the engineers could assess the effectiveness of the technology and modify it accordingly.
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Vision 2030: Mount Arafat Cooling Project
These include Vision 2030 initiative, which is a wide-ranging economic and social reform plan created by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman. The second one is the Pilgrim Experience Program.
In both cases, the development of infrastructure at sacred sites is a matter of national importance rather than a subsidiary issue. The deployment of technology for temperature regulation, crowd management, and service delivery is central to Saudi Arabia’s strategy to improve the Hajj experience without compromising its spirituality.
Implications for the 2026 Hajj Pilgrims
In the case of the anticipated two million pilgrims who will be participating in the Hajj 2026 pilgrimage, it is clear that the improved shading and cooling systems in Mount Arafat will have a great impact right away. Shaded walkways, corridors filled with mist, and cooling stations help prevent the risks of suffering from heat stroke and dehydration.
It clearly shows that in Saudi Arabia, there exists a policy whereby no pilgrim must ever feel endangered while taking part in any one of the five pillars of Islam.
