RIYADH: The Roads General Authority has completed a project that covers the asphalt around Arafat’s Namira Mosque with a white coating that will lower temperatures for Hajj pilgrims. 

The white coating, created using locally manufactured materials that absorb less sunlight, helps reduce surface temperature by about 20 degrees Celsius, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, the agency’s spokesperson, said the substance was applied in partnership with several agencies.

Last year, the coating was used on pedestrian pathways leading to the Jamarat area, where the ritual stoning of Satan takes place, and reduced temperatures by 12 to 15 degrees Celsius. 

An area of 25,000 square meters around Namira Mosque has now been covered. 

Al-Otaibi said this would create a more comfortable experience for pilgrims during the Hajj this year.