Dubai: Millions of Muslims undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage can look forward to cooler temperatures over the coming decades, as Saudi Arabia has announced that the Hajj season will not fall during the peak of summer again until the year 2050.
According to the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) in Saudi Arabia, beginning in 2026, the Hajj dates will gradually shift into the milder seasons of spring, winter, and autumn due to the natural progression of the Islamic lunar calendar.
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Hussein Al Qahtani, the official spokesperson for the NCM, confirmed that 2024 marks the final year in this cycle where Hajj coincides with the searing summer heat. Starting in 2026, pilgrims will experience progressively cooler conditions, which will last for the next 25 years,” he stated.
Breakdown of Hajj Seasons Until 2050:
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2026–2033: Spring (March to May)
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2034–2041: Winter (January to February, later December)
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2042–2049: Autumn (September to November)
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2050: Hajj returns to Summer (August)
This shift is the result of the Hijri calendar being 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, causing Islamic dates, including Hajj, to rotate through the seasons every 33 years.
Positive Impacts for Pilgrims
The new seasonal alignment is expected to significantly benefit the wellbeing and comfort of pilgrims — especially the elderly and those with health challenges. Cooler temperatures will ease the physical strain of the pilgrimage rituals, while also improving logistical planning, crowd control, and emergency preparedness for Saudi authorities.
Long-Term Planning with New Hajj Calendar
To help with preparations, the NCM has published a 25-year Hajj calendar, offering pilgrims and organizers foresight into how the pilgrimage will align with Gregorian calendar dates and seasonal conditions. This long-range visibility is a key step in optimizing safety and experience during one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.
As the sacred journey shifts through gentler seasons, Muslims around the world can look forward to a more manageable and spiritually fulfilling Hajj in the years ahead.
