MAKKAH: Hajj this year will be remembered not only for its spiritual significance but also for its climatic turning point. According to the National Center of Meteorology, the 1446 Hajj season officially marks the end of the pilgrimage coinciding with the peak summer months, a pattern that will not return for another 25 years.

Over the next two decades, the Islamic lunar calendar will bring Hajj progressively into cooler seasons. Eight upcoming pilgrimages will take place in spring, followed by another eight in winter. After that, the dates will fall in autumn, gradually warming again until Hajj re-enters the summer cycle around the year 2050.

This shift is part of the natural lunar cycle, which causes the Islamic calendar to shift backward by about 10 to 11 days each Gregorian year. For Saudi authorities, climate experts, and pilgrims alike, the change provides relief from one of the most challenging aspects of performing Hajj: having to endure blistering desert temperatures.

For decades, the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance infrastructure and expand services during Hajj have often had to work around the burden of extreme heat. From providing cooling mist fans and shaded walkways to using emergency teams trained in heatstroke response, the challenge of keeping millions of pilgrims safe during peak summer has been central to planning.

“This marks a pivotal moment,” said Hamza Al-Dosari, a Riyadh-based geographer and climate researcher. “The summer pilgrimage has always brought with it additional risks — dehydration, heat exhaustion, and logistical pressures. Moving into spring and winter seasons means significantly reduced heat exposure for the pilgrims, and this will have both health and operational implications.”

Al-Dosari said the coming years will offer a rare opportunity to rethink how the Hajj experience is managed. “We’ll be seeing pilgrimages that occur in temperatures often 10 to 15 degrees lower than what we’ve dealt with in recent years. This changes everything, from the energy load on cooling systems to how fast emergency response teams can work. It also makes the pilgrimage more accessible to the elderly and those with chronic conditions.”

He also noted that this shift does not remove the need for continued environmental preparation. “Spring and winter bring their own weather patterns — rain, wind, occasional cold snaps. The planning doesn’t get easier; it just changes. But it will be a welcome adjustment for many.”

For pilgrims such as Sarah Al-Abdulmohsen, who performed Hajj this year, the news that future seasons will be cooler came with mixed emotions.

“I’m incredibly grateful I made it this year, but the heat was truly overwhelming,” said the 32-year-old Saudi from Dhahran. “At one point in Mina, I checked my phone and it said 47°C. You try to focus on your prayers, but your body is screaming for shade and water.”

Al-Abdulmohsen said she was thrilled to hear that future pilgrims will perform their rituals under gentler weather. “It’s good news. This will make a huge difference for the elderly and for families who’ve always worried about how the heat might affect their loved ones.”

She added that the intense conditions only strengthened her admiration for the logistics of the pilgrimage. “Despite the temperature, I saw volunteers helping people constantly — giving out water, spraying cooling mist. But you can’t deny that cooler seasons will make Hajj more comfortable, even emotionally. You’ll have more clarity of mind, more presence in your prayers.”

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques have not yet released public statements on how this seasonal shift will influence future planning, but the long-term outlook is promising.

“This could be a historic period for rethinking pilgrim services,” Al-Dosari said. “Think about transportation, food distribution, energy consumption — all of these improve in moderate weather. Even spiritual engagement may deepen, as pilgrims won’t be fighting against their physical limits to complete the rituals.”

With temperatures expected to be in the 20s and 30s Celsius in future seasons, planners may also be able to expand the use of outdoor spaces and reduce reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems, helping to align Hajj services with Saudi Arabia’s broader sustainability goals under Vision 2030.

While many are welcoming the change, some seasoned pilgrims may find themselves nostalgic. Summer Hajj has been the norm for most Saudis under 40, with its own rhythm, expectations, and sense of trial. The struggle against heat has long been part of the journey’s narrative, testing faith and endurance.

Yet, for many others, especially those who delayed Hajj because of health concerns, this shift will finally open the door. With temperatures easing, the coming years could mean an increase in the number of pilgrims who were previously unable to perform the rituals due to medical or age-related reasons.

As the lunar calendar resets the course of one of Islam’s most important rituals, this transition may redefine what Hajj looks and feels like for an entire generation, not just spiritually, but physically and emotionally as well.