The Saudi National Meteorological Center (NMC) has announced that Hajj 2025 will be the last time the annual Islamic pilgrimage falls during the scorching summer months -- for at least the next 16 years.

Starting in 2026, the dates for Hajj will gradually shift into cooler seasons, moving first into spring and eventually into winter. This change is due to the Islamic lunar calendar, which moves about 10 days earlier each year compared to the Gregorian calendar.

For millions of pilgrims, this seasonal transition is welcome news. In recent years, they’ve braved extreme heat during Hajj, with temperatures in Makkah during the 2024 pilgrimage soaring between 46°C and 51°C. That year alone, over 2,760 cases of heatstroke were reported in a single day, along with several heat-related fatalities.

According to the NMC, Hajj will take place during spring from 2026 to 2033, followed by a stretch of winter pilgrimages lasting until 2041. It won’t return to the summer months until 2042, when a new nine-year cycle of hotter Hajj seasons will begin.

Also Read: Saudi Arabia okays 10,000 additional Hajj quota for Pakistani pilgrims

In response to rising heat risks, Saudi authorities have ramped up safety efforts in recent years. These include expanding shaded areas, increasing access to water stations, deploying mobile cooling units, and launching public awareness campaigns about heat safety.

During Hajj 2024, the Kingdom also introduced 33 new weather monitoring stations and extended the use of mobile radar technology to improve real-time climate monitoring across pilgrimage sites.

With over 1.8 million pilgrims expected to attend Hajj in 2025, officials say they are preparing for one final summer challenge -- before the pilgrimage enters what many hope will be a cooler, safer, and more sustainable era.

Meanwhile, on April 11, Saudi Arabia approved an additional Hajj quota of 10,000 for those who missed the initial registration deadline for Pakistani pilgrims.

The development came after Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar contacted Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, formally requesting an increase in Pakistan’s Hajj quota.