Weather in Saudi Arabia Reaches 45 Degrees Celsius During 2026 Hajj Season
Saudi Arabia’s weather is expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius during the 2026 Hajj season, and possibly even higher. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf has advised Indonesian Hajj officials and pilgrims to be vigilant against this extreme weather.
“Weather conditions are one of the aspects we convey to our officials and prospective Hajj officials. The forecast for the weather there during the Hajj season is around 40 to 45 degrees, and there is a possibility it could exceed that,” said Irfan during a CNN Indonesia TV broadcast on Monday (20/4).
Irfan stated that extreme heat exposure risks causing physical exhaustion leading to mass dehydration. He claimed to have equipped Hajj officials with emergency handling for Indonesian pilgrims.
“But certainly more than 40 degrees. Therefore, we also inform our prospective Hajj officials what needs to be done when our pilgrims experience dehydration or similar,” he said.
In addition to dehydration risks, depleted stamina from the weather could lower the immune system, making pilgrims more susceptible to viral transmission.
“The Saudi government requires all pilgrims to receive three vaccinations. Vaccination for meningitis, polio vaccination, and Covid vaccination. That is one of the Saudi government’s efforts to prevent potential outbreaks,” said Irfan.
Tanazul Scheme in Mina
On the other hand, the Government and the House of Representatives (DPR) are promoting the tanazul scheme for hotels during the Hajj rituals in Mina.
This rest relocation scheme is prepared as a concrete solution to prevent mass build-up, given the very limited capacity of the Mina area, which is disproportionate to the increasing number of Hajj pilgrims each year.
Chair of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, Marwan Dasopang, said he has requested Saudi Arabia to grant Indonesian pilgrims an exemption to rest in more adequate accommodations.
“The meaning of tanazul is that pilgrims do not stay overnight, do not sleep in Mina, but sleep in hotels. The obligation to perform the stoning is done for the required time in Mina, then proceed to their respective hotels. We are also participating in convincing the Saudi side that this is the best way for Indonesia,” said Marwan.
Minister of Hajj Irfan stated that the scheme is awaiting final approval from policymakers in the Holy Land.
“Regarding tanazul, we have also programmed it, with certain kloters for tanazul, numbering several thousand. But again, we still submit the tanazul proposal permit to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah as well as the Saudi police,” explained Irfan.
According to him, the implementation of this scheme requires high-level diplomacy as it heavily depends on permission from the host country.
“If both grant permission, then insyaallah it will be smooth and easy, as mentioned earlier, Mina is even very crowded if everyone has to be inside the tents. Therefore, there is an effort for some to tanazul and stay in their respective hotels not far from Mina,” he said.
The 2026 Hajj pilgrims are scheduled to start entering the Hajj dormitories today, Tuesday (21/4). The day after, the first wave of Hajj pilgrims will begin to be flown from the homeland to Madinah tomorrow, Wednesday (22/4).
Meanwhile, the second wave of pilgrims will follow, departing for Makkah via Jeddah Airport starting 7 May 2026.