Pilgrims begin leaving Mecca after Haj completed in scorching heat and shadow of Iran war

Climate change is shrinking the safe window for Haj, study warns

A World Weather Attribution study finds that May temperatures in Mecca are now 3.5°C above pre-industrial levels, compressing the climatically safe window for the annual Haj pilgrimage. The 2024 event saw 1,300+ deaths above 50°C; as extreme heat extends into historically cooler months, organizers face a narrowing planning horizon that will require sustained large-scale infrastructure investment regardless of calendar shifts.