Saudi Arabia announced a radical change in pilgrimage pilgrimage for 2025, which begins today, including new regulations prohibiting children from accompanying pilgrims and prioritizing pilgrims on their first trips. These changes represent the most important transformation of the pilgrimage passage in modern history.

The Chingj is one of the five pillars or obligations of Islam, and about 2 million Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia every year to complete the spiritual journey, and every mature, sound Muslim must do it at least once in their lifetime. Once the pilgrimage is guided by revelation, the Chingj has become a logistical miracle, and the new policy marks the most important transformation in its 1,400-year history.

The pilgrimage involves a series of rituals that involve hovering around Ka'ba in Mecca, praying in Mount Arafat, and dedication tracking the footsteps of the prophet Abraham and his family. “The Khykh Waleed Basyouni, chairman of the Almaghrib Institute who presided over his own Khj plan, said: “The Khj represents a profound spiritual journey for Muslims.” “This is a time for reflection, repentance and renewal of faith.”

Children are forbidden

The most controversial changes prohibit children from accompanying their guardians on pilgrimage. "People were surprised and shocked," Basyouni made several pilgrims.

The Saudi ministries of the North J and Umrah invoked the security of the decision. In 2024, more than 1,300 people died during the pilgrimage, mainly due to extreme heat and overcrowding. However, the new policy broke down with centuries of tradition, and families often traveled together to fulfill religious duties.

However, the minimum attendance age is not yet known. Some sources quoted the 12-year cutoff, while others indicated that Saudi Arabia had set 15 years as its minimum age. Confusion may stem from variables in personal development: In Muslim legislation, anyone who has not reached adolescence is considered a child.

Another variable is weather. This year, the desert pilgrimage coincides with the heat of summer. However, because the Islamic calendar changes approximately 10 days ago each year, in the 33-year cycle, the North will develop naturally in the winter from 2034 to 2041.

"They may impose restrictions on children in the summer during the high season," Basyouni said. "But when the weather is much better, they may change that later because the morning j occasionally appears in the calendar."

First-time pilgrimage priority

In another major shift, the host kingdom established a system that favored Muslims who had never completed the dynasty. This change addresses long-standing equity issues within the Muslim community around the world, where repeated pilgrims in wealthy countries are more accessible to attractions than first-time pilgrims from developing countries. The Journey Travel Package ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 per person.

"I hope this is a problem that can be solved," Basyouni said. "This is one of the pillars of (our) religion. It's hard. I don't know any religion in the world that costs so much money."

AI, communication and access

Watch this year's Kyrgyz will be an AI-powered drone network whose thermal imaging technology enables authorities to monitor millions of pilgrims in real time and respond quickly to potential security threats. Saudi Civil Defence has introduced the AI-powered "SAQR" (Falcon) drone that can identify and intercept unauthorized pilgrims and support the "No License" campaign in the kingdom of the kingdom.

In the Grand Mosque, the world's largest cooling system has a capacity of 155,000 tons, representing Saudi Arabia's response to increasingly high heat conditions during North Korea. A year ago, temperatures soared to 125 degrees Fahrenheit during the annual ceremony. Other mitigations in 2025 include expanding the shaded area to 50,000 square meters, deploying more than 400 cooling units, and adding thousands of other medical staff to standby.

“It got really hot, so I think (change) is great,” said IMAM Abdul-Malik Merchant of the Muslim Society (Adams) in all Dulles Regions in Virginia. As a guide and a traveler, the merchant has gone to the dying j seven times. He was there in 2015, when the stampede ended the lives of 2,400 travelers, even in the case of massive casualties, the catastrophic death toll.

Saudi Arabia has also changed its visa policy, limiting travelers from 14 countries, including Pakistan, Iraq and Morocco to a single entry visa. In the past few years, people with multi-entry visas will enter the country in the North J season and participate without permission. The duration of the North Korean visa has also been standardized and expires on October 10, Muharram on July 6, 2025. The duration of entry into the Holy City has also been tightened. Since late April, only those holders of official North Korean visas, valid residence rights or authorized personnel have been allowed to enter Mecca. So far this year, 269,000 people have stopped entering the city due to the lack of correct permissions.