Nina Amin files the report from ARD Studio Cairo, contributing to the broader coverage.

AP coverage includes accompanying notes and references to archive licensing for the video material.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage officially began in Mecca as more than 1.5 million pilgrims arrive from abroad, with organizers preparing for the rites amid regional tensions and a fragile Iran-related ceasefire.

Pilgrims describe the journey in deeply personal terms, such as Egyptian traveler Samya Abdul Moneim, emphasizing gratitude and the sense of a lifetime obligation for those who can afford it.

The package is part of AP Religion reporting, with collaboration from The Conversation US and funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., while AP alone bears the content responsibility.

Reporting is filed from Winter Park, Florida, as part of AP Religion coverage supported by The Conversation US and Lilly Endowment Inc.

Personal vignettes illustrate a spectrum of experiences, from a Los Angeles LAPD reserve officer tracking flights to a Michigan surgeon weighing travel risks and a Texas neurologist adapting family plans for spiritual goals.

Even under extreme heat, worshippers prayed intensely during the Day of Arafat rituals, seeking forgiveness, mercy, blessings, and health.

AP emphasizes that the Religion coverage is supported in part by The Conversation US and Lilly Endowment Inc., with AP maintaining sole responsibility for the content.

Biographical context is provided for Devadasan K P, Chief Visual Editor at Gulf News, who supplied photographs and context for the package.

The Associated Press reports from Arafat, Saudi Arabia, with the update dated May 26, 2026.

GASTAT data show 1,485,729 international arrivals by air, 54,429 by road, and 6,497 by sea.