Close to 1.5mn Muslims from around the world prepared last night for the climax of the annual Haj pilgrimage at Mount Arafat.
The pilgrims mark today with day-long prayers and recitals of the Qur’an at the spot.
After preliminary rituals in Makkah at the Grand Mosque, the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia moved east yesterday to the tent city of Mina and Mount Arafat.
“It’s marvellous. I’m here closer to God. It’s an indescribable feeling,” said an Egyptian pilgrim who gave her name only as Louza, 45, as a helicopter monitored the throng.
The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam, which capable Muslims must perform at least once, marking the spiritual peak of their lives.
Pilgrims come from every corner of the globe.  Indonesia - the world’s largest Muslim-populated nation - has the largest quota.
Despite diverse languages and origins, they all “meet here in one place under one banner, the profession of the Muslim faith”, Ashraf Zalat, 43, from Egypt, said in Makkah.
After Makkah, Mina becomes the pilgrims’ base, where an expanse of solidly built white fireproof tents can accommodate 2.6mn people in a valley beneath bare mountains.
Guides in orange vests helped to direct pilgrims while police cars patrolled and troops were stationed at regular intervals.