Temperatures expected to reach up to 44°C in Saudi Arabia.

Mecca, located in western Saudi Arabia, is the holiest city in Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. It is home to the Great Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) and the Kaaba, which Muslims face during prayer, and serves as the destination for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a duty for all able Muslims. Historically, Mecca was a key trading center before Islam, and its religious significance has made it a central spiritual site for over a millennium.

Medina, also known as Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, is a city in western Saudi Arabia that is considered the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca. It holds profound religious significance as the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad and the site of the first mosque, Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque), which he helped build after his migration (Hijrah) from Mecca in 622 CE. Historically, Medina served as the political and spiritual center of the early Muslim community, where the first Islamic state was established and the Quranic revelations continued.

Arafat is a plain located about 20 kilometers east of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, holding immense religious significance in Islam. It is the site where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon during his farewell pilgrimage, and it serves as the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, where pilgrims gather for the Day of Arafat to pray and seek forgiveness. Historically, it is also believed to be where Adam and Eve were reunited after their expulsion from paradise.

Mina is a tent city located in a valley near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, best known for its role in the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Historically, it is the site where the Prophet Abraham is believed to have been commanded to sacrifice his son, and where pilgrims today perform the symbolic “Stoning of the Devil” ritual. During Hajj, Mina becomes a temporary home to millions of pilgrims, with over 100,000 air-conditioned tents providing accommodation.

Muzdalifah is a sacred open plain located between Mina and Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia, significant for its role in the Hajj pilgrimage. Historically, it is where the Prophet Muhammad stopped and prayed during his final pilgrimage, and today pilgrims spend a night there collecting pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil at Mina. It holds deep religious meaning as a site of worship, reflection, and gathering under the night sky.