RIYADH: The early hours of Friday saw pilgrims start the journey from Muzdalifah to Mina, where they will perform one of Hajj’s most symbolic rituals — the stoning of the Jamarat, which marks the beginning of Eid Al-Adha and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s rejection of Satan.
Following a night of worship and rest, where the travelers combined and shortened the Maghrib and Isha prayers and collected pebbles for the ritual, the movement to Mina began shortly after midnight.
Saudi authorities orchestrated operations with meticulous precision, ensuring pilgrims moved in structured waves to prevent overcrowding and followed routes mapped out in advance by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in coordination with the Ministry of Interior.
Security personnel, crowd control units and volunteer guides lined the roads to ensure pilgrims — many of whom were elderly or physically exhausted — could travel safely.
Transportation was provided by a fleet of buses operating on strict schedules. Many people also used the Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro, the dedicated Hajj-only rail system which loops between Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah and can carry up to 72,000 passengers per hour. According to Saudi Press Agency, the nine-station line significantly reduced surface congestion and supported the Kingdom’s strategy for a safe and sustainable Hajj.
Upon arrival in Mina, pilgrims proceeded to Jamarat Bridge, a purpose-built, multi-level structure designed to accommodate millions performing the stoning ritual.
Each pilgrim casts seven pebbles at Jamrat al-Aqaba, symbolizing the rejection of evil. The ritual is repeated over the next two days at all three Jamarat pillars.
The millions of pebbles fall into the Jamarat’s basement, which is 15 meters deep, where they are collected by conveyor belts.
They are then sifted, washed to remove impurities, and transferred to storage vehicles. Ahmed Al-Subhi, a representative of Kidana Development Co., which manages the holy sites, said bags of pebbles were prepared in advance and distributed at more than 300 contact points in Muzdalifah and Mina.
The process is part of a broader system designed to reduce the ritual’s environmental impact and preserve its spiritual symbolism.
To ensure smooth flow at the Jamarat, the bridge is equipped with advanced surveillance systems, ventilation units, emergency exits and designated pathways for groups and individuals.
Entry and exit are managed through RFID-based Nusuk cards and digital crowd-tracking systems operated by the Saudi Data and AI Authority.
According to the General Authority for Statistics, 1,673,230 pilgrims are performing Hajj this year, with some 1,506,576 coming from outside the Kingdom.
