This year's Haj is being held in downsized form and under coronavirus restrictions for the second year running.

Just 60,000 people, all citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia, were selected to take part in this year's Haj, with foreign pilgrims again barred.

Once drawing some 2.5 million Muslims from across the globe to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia, the pilgrimage was dramatically scaled back due to the virus.

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Header image: Muslim pilgrims pray at Namira Mosque on the plain of Arafat during the annual Haj pilgrimage on July 19. — Reuters