The annual occasion has become a lucrative business in recent years, proving a great financial asset to the economy of the oil-rich kingdom.
Many pilgrims, however, struggle to reconcile their spiritual needs with their wallets.
Mohammed Zayan, a 53-year-old pilgrim from Tunisia, has waited a lifetime to perform the religious obligation, which does not come free.
"I spent up to $6,000 (£3,700) on my Hajj," says Mr Zayan, who wears the traditional white pilgrims' clothes.
"I thank God that he enabled me to save this amount of money but I'm sad I could not afford taking my wife and son with me."
The millions who come to Mecca every year bring billions of dollars to the Saudi economy. » | Ahmed Maher, BBC Arabic, Mecca | Thursday, October 25, 2012
