Overview
- The four‑day Eid al‑Adha observance, which began 26 May, coincides with the Hajj peak and has drawn roughly 1.5 million foreign pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense has deployed air‑defence units to protect the airspace and holy sites around Mecca in response to recent Iran‑related attacks and elevated security concerns.
- Weather and crowd safety remain urgent issues with forecasts of temperatures near 45°C and fresh memory of last year's deadly heat incident influencing preparations for pilgrims.
- Morocco reported a recovered national herd of about 33 million animals this year, allowing normal market activity and traditional sacrifices after last year's drought forced restrictions.
- Across Germany communities held large communal prayers and charity meals, schools in North Rhine‑Westphalia allowed excused absences with timely requests, and debates persist over rising travel costs, ritual slaughter rules and animal‑welfare concerns.