Saudi Arabia announced that the hajj will begin on June 14 after astronomical observatories spotted the crescent moon on Thursday evening, which marks the start of the month when the annual pilgrimage takes place.
The Supreme Court confirmed that Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar, will begin on Friday, as reported by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory for all Muslims who have the means to undertake it at least once in their lifetime.
It consists of a series of rituals conducted over a minimum of four days in and around Mecca in western Saudi Arabia.
The climax of the pilgrimage occurs on the second day when pilgrims gather for prayers on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon.
This year, this will take place on June 15, and the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha will follow on June 16, as per the SPA.
Saudi Arabia is home to the holiest sites in Islam, Mecca and Medina. The kingdom earns billions of dollars annually from the hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, which are undertaken at other times of the year.
These pilgrimages also enhance the prestige of the Saudi monarch, whose official title includes "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" in Mecca and Medina.
According to official figures, more than 1.8 million Muslims participated in the Hajj last year.
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