Mecca's Grand Mosque perfumed ahead of Haj
Men were seen perfuming the walls of the Ka'aba and carrying incenses as they moved around the premises of the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Saudi authorities ordered a deep clean of the site earlier in a bid to minimise the risk of contagion from the coronavirus pandemic.
For the first time in the modern era, amidst efforts to curb COVID-19, Muslims from abroad will be unable to attend the pilgrimage.
This year's event has been limited to about 1,000 pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia, 70 percent of whom will be foreign residents of the kingdom.
The remaining 30 percent will be drawn from Saudi healthcare workers and security personnel who have recovered from the coronavirus, as a gesture of thanks for their sacrifice.
Some 2.5 million Muslims typically visit the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina for the week-long pilgrimage, due to start on July 28. A once-in-a-lifetime duty for able-bodied Muslims who can afford the cost, it is usually extremely crowded.
