Hajj 2025Saudi Arabia uses cloud seeding to cool holy sites

A Saudi government cloud seeding agency has reported "promising results" from research exploring the use of advanced technology to help cool temperatures at holy sites, where millions of Muslim pilgrims gather annually for the Hajj pilgrimage.

The Cloud Seeding Programme presented its findings at a climate workshop held Thursday in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.

The research, conducted in the western city of Taif—part of the Makkah region—focused on enhancing cloud formation and increasing the chances of rainfall to improve weather conditions in the sacred areas.

Programme Executive Ayman Al Bar shared an overview of field studies on Taif’s clouds and their potential for supporting cloud development.

He described the efforts as a “qualitative leap” in using advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to guide rainmaking operations, strengthening the kingdom’s ability to adapt to climate change and combat desertification and water scarcity.

Titled “Climate Impact on This Year’s Hajj,” the workshop was organised by the Saudi National Centre of Meteorology. It brought together various government and supporting agencies involved in the Hajj season to coordinate efforts and enhance readiness for field operations.

The upcoming Hajj, scheduled for early June, will be the last to occur during the intense summer heat for the next 16 years.

Starting in 2026, due to the Islamic lunar calendar, the Hajj season will gradually shift into cooler months—first spring, then winter.