Hyderabad, April 18 -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's National Meteorological Center (NCM) has announced that Haj 2025 will be the last pilgrimage to occur during the peak summer heat for the next 16 years.

From 2026, the annual pilgrimage will shift into spring and later winter, due to the Islamic lunar calendar's annual drift of approximately 10 days.

Haj is expected to fall in spring from 2026 to 2033, and in winter from 2034 to 2041, before returning to the summer season in 2042.

This change will offer much-needed respite to millions of pilgrims who have contended with soaring temperatures during previous pilgrimages.

During the 2024 pilgrimage, temperatures in Makkah ranged between 46 degree Celsius and 51 degree Celsius, resultin...