Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha across Saudi Arabia, Mideast and the West

Millions of Muslims marked Eid-ul-Adha on Wednesday across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries, joining worshippers around the world in celebrations of one of Islam’s most important religious occasions.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, in Saudi Arabia, a spiritually uplifting Eid congregation was held at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, where thousands of worshippers gathered to offer special Eid prayers. 

Preparations were also made for Eid prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, which welcomed large numbers of pilgrims and visitors.

Meanwhile, pilgrims performing Hajj continued their religious rites in Mina by carrying out the symbolic stoning of the largest pillar, representing the rejection of evil. 

The ritual forms an important part of the annual pilgrimage and is observed by millions of Muslims from around the world.

Eid-ul-Adha was also celebrated across the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states, where worshippers attended prayers and joined family gatherings to mark the occasion.

Beyond the Middle East, Muslims in the United States, Britain and several European countries also observed Eid-ul-Adha, taking part in prayers, community events and charitable activities.

The festival commemorates the spirit of sacrifice, faith and obedience, values that remain central to the teachings of Islam and are reflected in celebrations taking place across the globe.

More than 1.7 million pilgrims perform Hajj this year

 A total of 1,707,301 Muslims performed Hajj this year, according to figures released by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics, reflecting a modest increase compared with the previous year.

The authority reported that 1,546,655 pilgrims travelled from abroad to take part in the annual pilgrimage. The international pilgrims represented 165 different nationalities, highlighting the global nature of one of Islam’s most important religious gatherings.

Domestic pilgrims accounted for 160,646 of the total number, with Saudi citizens and residents participating alongside visitors from around the world.

Official statistics showed that men slightly outnumbered women among this year’s pilgrims. The number of male pilgrims reached 893,396, while 813,905 women completed the pilgrimage.

Air travel remained the most common means of transport for international pilgrims. A total of 1,485,729 pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom by air, while 54,429 entered through land border crossings and 6,497 arrived by sea.

The latest figures indicate an increase from last year, when 1,673,230 Muslims performed Hajj.

The annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, brings together Muslims from across the world in a demonstration of faith, unity and devotion.