Mina is the base camp for every Hajj 1447 AH pilgrim across the rites of 8–13 Dhul Hijjah, falling in late May 2026, subject to moon sighting — with pilgrims moving to Arafat and Muzdalifah on the 9th and many departing on the 12th.
The tent city is where pilgrims sleep, eat, and prepare for Arafat and the Jamarat days — here is what to expect inside it.
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The Mina Tent City at a Glance
Mina sits between Makkah and Muzdalifah and functions as the largest temporary city in the world during the Hajj week. According to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, every pilgrim performing Hajj passes through Mina on multiple days of Dhul Hijjah, making it the most concentrated point of the pilgrimage in terms of both numbers and time spent.
The encampment itself is a planned grid of fixed tent blocks, paved walkways, and service corridors maintained year-round by Saudi authorities.
Saudi Press Agency describes the developed Mina tent network as one of the largest infrastructure projects ever delivered at the holy sites, built to the highest standards of security and safety.
Key infrastructure inside the Mina tent network:
- Over 30,000 fire-suppression sprinklers installed across the tent grid
- More than 3,000 surveillance cameras monitoring movement and safety
- Over 12,000 speakers for guidance announcements and emergency alerts
- More than 15,000 air conditioning and ventilation units keeping the tents cool
Mina Stay: Day-by-Day Guide
The Mina stay anchors the Hajj rites. The official Nusuk Hajj journey outlines a fixed sequence of movements between Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah across six days.
| Date | Location | Main Rite |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Dhul Hijjah (Day of Tarwiyah) | Mina | Arrival, prayer, and overnight stay |
| 9 Dhul Hijjah (Day of Arafah) | Arafat → Muzdalifah | Standing at Arafat, then night in Muzdalifah |
| 10 Dhul Hijjah (Day of Eid) | Mina → Makkah | Pelting Jamrat Al-Aqabah, sacrifice, Tawaf Al-Ifada |
| 11 Dhul Hijjah | Mina | Pelting the three Jamarat |
| 12 Dhul Hijjah | Mina | Pelting the three Jamarat (departure permitted before sunset) |
| 13 Dhul Hijjah (Optional) | Mina | Optional additional pelting day for pilgrims staying on |
Most pilgrims spend four nights inside Mina (8, 11, 12, and a return on 10 Dhul Hijjah after Jamrat Al-Aqabah), with one night in Muzdalifah on the 9th. The Mina tent is the constant base across these dates.
Inside a Mina Tent: Layout, Capacity, and Amenities
Each Mina tent is a fixed white fabric structure mounted on a permanent steel frame, anchored to a paved concrete base.
Pilgrims sleep on floor-level mattresses arranged in rows, with male and female sections segregated either within the same tent partition or across separate adjacent tents, depending on the operator.
Tent capacity varies by camp. The Nusuk Hajj packages page lists the two principal Mina camp zones used across all official packages:
- Majar Al-Kabsh — capacity of around 5,000 pilgrims, located 300–700 metres from the Jamarat Bridge
- Al-Muaisim — capacity of around 44,000 pilgrims, located approximately 4 kilometres from the Jamarat Bridge
Inside the tent, pilgrims will typically find low-level mattresses with bedding, overhead lighting, ceiling-mounted air conditioning vents, fire detectors, surveillance cameras at corridor intersections, and a designated luggage area.
Most camps also include shared prayer spaces and external ablution and restroom blocks attached to each tent cluster.
Multi-Storey Accommodation
Saudi Arabia is gradually expanding the Mina footprint vertically. Saudi Press Agency reports that the Kidana Al-Wadi project added ten multi-storey residential buildings in Mina, accommodating more than 30,000 pilgrims with clinic rooms, internal praying and dining halls, and central kitchens.
A separate Kidana double-storey tent project has completed its first phase covering more than 20,000 square metres across 40+ buildings with over 550 restrooms.
Air Conditioning, Climate Control, and Tent Construction
Mina tents are air-conditioned. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirms that over 15,000 air conditioning and ventilation units are integrated across the developed Mina tent network, alongside ceiling-distributed cooling vents inside each tent block.
The fabric used in the Mina tents is engineered for heat reflection and fire resistance, anchored on permanent steel framing rather than the traditional fabric-and-pole construction. Internal temperatures during the daytime are kept significantly below outdoor highs, which routinely exceed 40°C in late May and June.
Fire Safety and Crowd-Safety Upgrades
Fire safety is engineered into every Mina tent block. According to Saudi Press Agency, the encampment is equipped with more than 30,000 fire-suppression sprinklers distributed across the tents, along with over 3,000 surveillance cameras tracking crowd flow and over 12,000 speakers used for both routine guidance and emergency alerts.
Crowd Management
The Saudi Ministry of Interior coordinates security and crowd-control inside Mina across the Hajj week. Nusuk Hajj integrates smart-sensor monitoring of pilgrim flow through tent zones and the Jamarat Bridge, with civil defence personnel and Hajj security forces positioned at major junctions throughout the encampment.
Pelting schedules are time-banded by tent block to prevent congestion at the Jamarat Bridge, and pilgrims are expected to follow the timing assigned to their group.
Food, Water, and Sanitation Inside the Tent City
Catering is included in every official Hajj package booked through Nusuk. Meals are delivered to the tent block from central kitchens operated by authorised service providers, typically three meals a day plus light refreshments. Bottled water and Zamzam water are distributed continuously throughout the Mina stay.
Restroom and ablution blocks are positioned alongside each tent cluster. The Kidana double-storey tent project alone added over 550 restrooms in its first phase, according to Saudi Press Agency. Wait times can still be long during peak prayer windows, especially before Fajr and after Maghrib.
What pilgrims should know:
- Meal timings follow prayer schedules — plan rest and pelting trips around them
- Bottled and Zamzam water are distributed inside the camps during the Mina stay; carry a refillable bottle
- Shared restrooms can be crowded — use off-peak windows when possible
- Strict hygiene rules apply inside the tent; outside food is generally discouraged
Mina Tent Categories by Hajj Package
The Nusuk Hajj platform offers six official package categories for Hajj 1447 AH. The Mina experience differs primarily by camp location and accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, not by tent construction itself.
| Package | Makkah/Madinah Accommodation | Mina Camp | Minimum Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxury | 5-star hotels in both cities | Majar Al-Kabsh or Al-Muaisim | 10 days |
| Premium | 4-star hotels in both cities | Majar Al-Kabsh or Al-Muaisim | 10 days |
| Standard | 3-star hotels or residential buildings | Majar Al-Kabsh or Al-Muaisim | 14 days |
| Luxury Shifting | 5-star in Makkah; 5- or 4-star elsewhere | Majar Al-Kabsh or Al-Muaisim | 14 days |
| Premium Shifting | 4-star in Makkah; 4- or 3-star elsewhere | Majar Al-Kabsh or Al-Muaisim | 14 days |
| Standard Shifting | 3-star hotels or residential buildings | Majar Al-Kabsh or Al-Muaisim | 14 days |
The key practical difference between Majar Al-Kabsh and Al-Muaisim is walking distance to the Jamarat Bridge. Pilgrims in Al-Muaisim typically rely on the Mashaer Metro or shuttle buses to reach the pelting site, while those in Majar Al-Kabsh can walk in well under an hour.
Transport Between Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Jamarat
Movement between the holy sites is the operational backbone of Hajj. The Al Mashaer Al Mugaddasah Metro remains the fastest option, running on a dedicated 18-kilometre double-track line with nine stations — three each in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.
Mashaer Metro key facts:
- Capacity of 72,000 passengers per hour in one direction
- Operates exclusively during the Hajj season
- Transported over 2.2 million pilgrims across 2,206 trips in the 1445 AH season
- Access is reserved for pilgrims whose packages include Mashaer Metro tickets
Pilgrims whose packages do not include the metro travel by bus shuttle, while some pilgrims in nearby camps walk between Mina and the Jamarat Bridge along designated pedestrian routes.
Saudi Vision 2030 and the Expansion of Mina
Mina infrastructure is being expanded as part of the Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030. The program targets capacity expansion across the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites, with ongoing investment in tent design, multi-storey accommodation, and digital pilgrim services.
The Kidana double-storey tent project and the Kidana Al-Wadi multi-storey residential towers are the two largest physical upgrades currently rolling out in Mina, both confirmed by official Saudi Press Agency reporting.
On 8 May 2026, Saudi Press Agency reported that Kidana Development Company and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah are also delivering a new 24,000-square-metre Mina housing project across two strategic locations, featuring tent-style residential units with advanced ventilation and shading, ahead of Hajj 1447 AH.
Digital infrastructure upgrades include smart-sensor crowd monitoring and Nusuk Card-based identification at every checkpoint.
What Pilgrims Should Know Before Their Mina Stay
Mina is a shared, high-density environment with limited storage and outdoor exposure between rites, so preparation matters more than packing volume.
- Pack light into the tent. Leave bulky luggage at the Makkah hotel and carry only Ihram garments, a refillable Zamzam bottle, a power bank, sun protection, and the Nusuk Card. The full Hajj 2026 packing list for men and women breaks this down by category.
- Know the medical setup. The Saudi Red Crescent Authority deployed 37 ambulance centres across the Mina sacred area for the most recent Hajj 1446 AH season, supported by 87 vehicles and 374 health practitioners.
- Prepare for extreme heat. Late May 2026 daytime highs regularly exceed 40°C, and the Saudi Ministry of Health flags heat-related illness as a leading risk during Hajj — especially for elderly pilgrims and those with diabetes, heart, kidney, or blood-pressure conditions. The Hajj 2026 Heat Safety Guide and Crowd Safety Guide cover official advisories in detail.
- Carry the Nusuk Card at all times. The official Nusuk Card stores tent address, service provider contact, and identity details for use at all Mina checkpoints — and is required for reuniting with the group if separated in the crowd.
Pilgrims preparing for Hajj 1447 AH can compare and book flights to Jeddah and flights to Madinah on Wego, alongside hotels in Makkah and hotels in Madinah for the days bracketing the Mina stay. Official Hajj packages, Mina tent assignments, and the Nusuk Card itself are issued only via the Nusuk Hajj platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pilgrims share a single Mina tent?
Tent occupancy varies by operator and camp, but pilgrims should expect a shared space of dozens of people per tent, with men and women segregated either by tent partition or by adjacent tents. Exact occupancy is set by each service provider listed on the Nusuk Hajj platform.
Are the Mina tents air-conditioned?
Yes. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirms over 15,000 air-conditioning and ventilation units across the developed Mina tent network. Cooling is shared across the tent, so pilgrims should still prepare for warm conditions during peak hours.
Is mobile phone charging available inside the tent?
Power outlets exist inside Mina tents but are limited and heavily shared. A power bank is strongly recommended, and pilgrims should keep the Nusuk Card available in both digital and paper formats in case battery runs low.
How far is the Mina tent from the Jamarat Bridge?
Per the Nusuk Hajj platform, pilgrims in the Majar Al-Kabsh camp are 300–700 metres from the Jamarat Bridge, while those in the larger Al-Muaisim camp are around 4 kilometres away. Walking and Mashaer Metro options are both available depending on the package.
What happens if a pilgrim gets separated from their group inside Mina?
The Nusuk Card lists the pilgrim’s tent address and service provider contact, allowing security and civil defence personnel to redirect them to the correct camp. Pilgrims should approach the nearest checkpoint, ambulance centre, or security officer for immediate assistance.
Can pilgrims book a Mina tent separately from the rest of the Hajj package?
No. Mina accommodation is bundled into every official Hajj package issued through the Nusuk Hajj platform, alongside Makkah and Madinah hotels, catering, transport, and Mashaer services. It is not sold as a standalone product.
Sources
- Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah – Mina
- Nusuk Hajj Platform
- Nusuk Hajj – Packages and Categories
- Nusuk Hajj – The Journey
- Saudi Press Agency – Advanced Mina Tents Equipped with Highest Safety Standards
- Saudi Press Agency – Kidana Double-Story Tent Project in Mina
- Saudi Press Agency – Kidana Al-Wadi Multi-Storey Residential Buildings in Mina
- Saudi Press Agency – Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro Line
- Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah – Nusuk Card
- Saudi Red Crescent Authority – Mina Ambulance Centres
- Saudi Red Crescent Authority – Hajj Emergency Response
- Saudi Vision 2030 – Pilgrim Experience Program
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
Featured image: Arisdp, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
