‘Express’ Hajj Pilgrims Prepare to Depart Mina

In this handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on June 29, 2023, Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, on the second day of Eid Al-Adha that ends the Hajj pilgrimage. (SPA/AFP)
In this handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on June 29, 2023, Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, on the second day of Eid Al-Adha that ends the Hajj pilgrimage. (SPA/AFP)
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‘Express’ Hajj Pilgrims Prepare to Depart Mina

In this handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on June 29, 2023, Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, on the second day of Eid Al-Adha that ends the Hajj pilgrimage. (SPA/AFP)
In this handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on June 29, 2023, Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, on the second day of Eid Al-Adha that ends the Hajj pilgrimage. (SPA/AFP)

The majority of Hajj pilgrims will prepare on Friday to depart the holy city of Makkah on the third day of Eid al-Adha and on the second day of Tashreeq, in what is known as the “day of haste”.

On the first day of Tashreeq, pilgrims cast stones at pillars representing the devil.

This year's pilgrimage was the first in three years to be held without coronavirus restrictions and drew over 1.8 million Muslims from all corners of the Earth.

This year the Hajj was held in intense heat, with daytime temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).

The Saudi Health Ministry said it had treated over 1,700 cases of heat exhaustion or heat stroke on Thursday alone, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pilgrimage to over 8,400.

Mohammad Al-Abdel Ali, a Health Ministry spokesman, said Wednesday that some 4,000 pilgrims had been hospitalized.

The Health Ministry warned pilgrims to carry umbrellas and avoid direct sunlight at all times, and to drink plenty of water. Tens of thousands of health workers have been mobilized for the pilgrimage, and water and free drinks were being handed out to the pilgrims.

Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif inspected on Thursday the operation of the Security Forces Hospital in Makkah and the health services being provided to the pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance managed to send over 17 million text messages of awareness to the pilgrims in ten different languages since the beginning of the Hajj.

The texts aim to raise awareness about the Hajj and Umrah rituals, introduce pilgrims to telephone and library services, and stress the need to abide by the state’s rules and regulations to ensure their safety.



Lebanese President Arrives in Qatar on Official Visit

This handout picture released by the Lebanese Government Press Office shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) being welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Transport Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (C-L) after arriving in Doha on April 15, 2025. (Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Lebanese Government Press Office shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) being welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Transport Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (C-L) after arriving in Doha on April 15, 2025. (Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
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Lebanese President Arrives in Qatar on Official Visit

This handout picture released by the Lebanese Government Press Office shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) being welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Transport Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (C-L) after arriving in Doha on April 15, 2025. (Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Lebanese Government Press Office shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) being welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Transport Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (C-L) after arriving in Doha on April 15, 2025. (Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Qatar on Tuesday on an official two-day visit at the invitation of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Aoun will hold bilateral talks with Sheikh Tamim and expanded talks will be held between the Lebanese and Qatari delegations.

The president is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji.

Aoun arrived in Qatar hours after Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani received French President's Envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian.

They discussed bilateral cooperation, the latest developments in Lebanon, and a number of issues of mutual interest.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the need for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territories, and for all parties to adhere to the ceasefire agreement and avoid escalation, in order to ensure security and stability in the region.