On Thursday, Muslim worshippers gathered on Mount Arafat for the peak of the hajj pilgrimage while Saudi authorities urged them to avoid the intense midday heat following last year’s tragedy, where 1,301 pilgrims died due to extreme temperatures. The government has expanded shaded areas, increased medical staff, and deployed cooling units to mitigate heat risks, while also cracking down on unregistered pilgrims who contributed to last year’s fatalities. Despite the heat reaching 42°C (107.6°F), many pilgrims expressed joy and gratitude for the opportunity to perform hajj, supported by advanced surveillance and crowd management measures to ensure safety.