The Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially announced the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent, signifying the beginning of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
As a result, the Day of Arafah will be observed on Wednesday, June 5, while Eid Al-Adha will be celebrated on Thursday, June 6, 2025, across the Kingdom and the Muslim world.
The announcement followed the court’s earlier call on Muslims to watch for the crescent moon on the 29th of Dhu al-Qa’dah and promptly report any sightings.
To mark the occasion, the Saudi government has declared a weeklong public holiday for workers in both the public and private sectors.
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Passports has disclosed that over 1.1 million pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom from various parts of the world to perform this year’s Hajj. According to the agency:
1,044,341 pilgrims arrived by air,
53,850 by land,
And 4,278 via sea ports.
Saudi authorities have assured that elaborate arrangements are in place for a smooth and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage, with all international entry points equipped with advanced technologies and multilingual personnel.
These efforts are in line with the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership and the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030, aimed at improving the quality of services and enhancing the overall Hajj experience.
