As dawn broke on the 9th of Dhul Hijja, millions of pilgrims from across the globe converged upon the sacred plains of Arafat to perform the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage — the Standing at Arafat — in a breathtaking display of global Muslim unity.
Pilgrims ensured their presence within the clearly marked boundaries of the Arafat site, standing from sunrise to sunset in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as the entire plain serves as a valid standing ground.
Highly coordinated crowd management plans ensured smooth movement, with the Holy Sites Train transporting approximately 350,000 pilgrims, supported by over 24,000 buses operating on dedicated routes to minimize transit times between the sacred sites.
As the sun sets over Arafat, the great procession moves toward Muzdalifa, where pilgrims perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers combined, before resting overnight ahead of their journey to Mina to complete the remaining Hajj rituals.
