The world's largest cooling system has been activated at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, coinciding with the arrival of over one million Hajj pilgrims amid soaring summer temperatures.

The annual pilgrimage is set to commence on Wednesday, with Saudi authorities implementing measures to ensure the safety of participants as temperatures are expected to exceed 40°C.

The cooling system boasts a capacity of 155,000 refrigeration tonnes, designed to maintain temperatures within the mosque between 22°C and 24°C, as reported by the official Saudi Press Agency.

It consists of two primary cooling stations: the Shamiya station, which has a capacity of 120,000 tonnes, and the Ajyad station, which contributes an additional 35,000 tonnes.

The Grand Mosque, which houses the Kaaba and draws millions of worshippers annually, dates back to the 16th century in its oldest sections.

Saudi authorities stress that enhancing the pilgrim experience is paramount, especially considering the challenging weather conditions that have arisen in previous years.

Last year, extreme heat led to the deaths of 1,300 pilgrims, many of whom were unregistered and lacked access to proper cooling facilities.

As of Friday, reports indicated that more than 1.3 million pilgrims had already arrived in Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah Al Mutawa, a 45-year-old pilgrim, expressed his profound joy at finally fulfilling his lifelong dream of participating in Hajj, sharing his emotional experience at Dubai airport before his flight to Makkah.

To ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims, over 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials will be actively engaged during the event.

The Saudi Interior Ministry has issued strict warnings against unauthorized attempts to perform the pilgrimage.

Fines for individuals without permits can reach up to 20,000 riyals (approximately $5,300), while those facilitating illegal pilgrimages may face even harsher penalties.

Foreign trespassers on these regulations risk being barred from entering Saudi Arabia for a period of ten years.

Further infrastructure improvements have been made to bolster the safety of Hajj attendees.

Since 1987, a quota system has been in place, established by member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, limiting the number of pilgrims from each nation to 0.1% of its population.

This year, the implementation of artificial intelligence technology and a fleet of drones will aid in crowd management and monitoring efforts within the holy city.