Mina hajj tents through years - in pictures

  • Muslim pilgrims at the tent city on a mountainside in the town of Mina, near Makkah, in November 2009. The pilgrims began the final rituals of Hajj that year by stoning the devil and circling the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AFP
    Muslim pilgrims at the tent city on a mountainside in the town of Mina, near Makkah, in November 2009. The pilgrims began the final rituals of Hajj that year by stoning the devil and circling the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AFP
  • Pilgrims carry their belongings to their tents in Mina in March 1999. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims spent the night at the tent city before end of the pilgrimage. AFP
    Pilgrims carry their belongings to their tents in Mina in March 1999. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims spent the night at the tent city before end of the pilgrimage. AFP
  • Pilgrims rest inside their tents erected on a mountaintop in Mina on the first day of the Eid Al Adha in March 2000. AFP
    Pilgrims rest inside their tents erected on a mountaintop in Mina on the first day of the Eid Al Adha in March 2000. AFP
  • Tents erected in Mina for pilgrims to spend the first day of Eid Al Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, in March 1999. The feast marks the end of the annual pilgrimage. AFP
    Tents erected in Mina for pilgrims to spend the first day of Eid Al Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, in March 1999. The feast marks the end of the annual pilgrimage. AFP
  • The tent city in Mina in October 2013. Pilgrims pelted pillars symbolising the devil with pebbles to show their defiance on the third day of Hajj that year as Muslims worldwide marked Eid Al Adha. AFP
    The tent city in Mina in October 2013. Pilgrims pelted pillars symbolising the devil with pebbles to show their defiance on the third day of Hajj that year as Muslims worldwide marked Eid Al Adha. AFP
  • Saudi police cars pass near the fireproof, air-conditioned tents in Mina in March 2000. The tents hosted about two million pilgrims during the last four days of Hajj. AFP
    Saudi police cars pass near the fireproof, air-conditioned tents in Mina in March 2000. The tents hosted about two million pilgrims during the last four days of Hajj. AFP
  • Saudi authorities erected about 43,000 air-conditioned tents to accommodate two million pilgrims in March 2000. AFP
    Saudi authorities erected about 43,000 air-conditioned tents to accommodate two million pilgrims in March 2000. AFP
  • The tent city in Mina. Balquees Basalom / The National
    The tent city in Mina. Balquees Basalom / The National
  • Workers prepare a camp in Mina before the arrival of pilgrims in July 2021. AP
    Workers prepare a camp in Mina before the arrival of pilgrims in July 2021. AP
  • The pilgrimage to Makkah is required once in the lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. AP
    The pilgrimage to Makkah is required once in the lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. AP
  • The pilgrimage, which used to draw more than two million people, was curtailed in July 2021, for a second straight year, due to the coronavirus. AP
    The pilgrimage, which used to draw more than two million people, was curtailed in July 2021, for a second straight year, due to the coronavirus. AP
  • Only vaccinated people in Saudi Arabia were able to participate in the pilgrimage last year. AP
    Only vaccinated people in Saudi Arabia were able to participate in the pilgrimage last year. AP
  • A Saudi soldier stands guard outside the tent city in Mina last year. AP
    A Saudi soldier stands guard outside the tent city in Mina last year. AP
  • A doctor works in a camp clinic in Mina last year. AP
    A doctor works in a camp clinic in Mina last year. AP
  • Water is sprayed to bring down the temperature at the tent city in Mina last year. AP
    Water is sprayed to bring down the temperature at the tent city in Mina last year. AP
  • Saudi pilgrim Irak Al Dofairy, 65, right, reads the Quran on his mobile phone, at the tent city last July. AP
    Saudi pilgrim Irak Al Dofairy, 65, right, reads the Quran on his mobile phone, at the tent city last July. AP
  • The tent city in Mina, on the eve of the start of Hajj last year. AFP
    The tent city in Mina, on the eve of the start of Hajj last year. AFP
  • A police vehicle patrols the tent city in Mina last July. AP
    A police vehicle patrols the tent city in Mina last July. AP
  • An aerial view of the tent city of Mina in November 2011. AP
    An aerial view of the tent city of Mina in November 2011. AP