At least 4.1mn people have attended the 2025 Araba'een pilgrimage in Iraq, according to local officials, in what has been dubbed the largest movement of people on earth. 

Arba’een, which brings about one of the largest religious gatherings in the world—has grown in popularity in recent years—and comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad and the third Shia Imam Hussein. This year has become increasingly important to many pious Shia Muslims following the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which saw more than 1,190 killed in Iran, according to official estimates. At the same time, continued Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah have wiped out the group's top commanders, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah. 

The 2025 procession, despite the large numbers, occurs at probably one of the most dangerous points of the year due to ongoing heat dome effects across the region, with temperatures exceeding 52°C (125.6°F) on August 15, in parts of Iraq. Medical teams have been sent to both sides of the border due to the severe risk of heatstroke for those making the pilgrimage. 

Iraqi ministry spokesperson Colonel Abbas Al-Bahadli told Shafaq News Agency, “The visitors came from 140 different countries; the security and service agencies continue to implement their plans to ensure smooth crowd movement and provide suitable conditions for pilgrims during the rituals.”

Across the border, Iran's Ilam Governor Ahmad Karmi announced that a record 270,000 crossings were recorded in 24 hours through the Mehran border crossing, as numbers continue to grow each year.  

Karmi said that preparations for the pilgrimage season began months ago through regular meetings of the governorate's Forty-Nation Committee, with the participation of specialised committees, in addition to effective diplomatic coordination with the neighbouring Iraqi governorate.

Iraq's Red Crescent Society announced it had provided medical, first aid, and awareness services to more than 1.8mn Iraqi and foreign pilgrims during this year’s commemoration.

According to the society’s statement, its teams delivered primary healthcare to 240,577 people, evacuated 7,035 medical cases to hospitals by ambulance, and provided on-site first aid to 1,036,815 pilgrims through fixed and mobile units. Health awareness campaigns reached 353,152 visitors, while psychological support was extended to 123,269 pilgrims.

The Red Crescent also operated guidance centres for missing and lost individuals, assisting 22,712 people, and distributed safe drinking water to 728,090 processions and Husseiniyas inside and outside Karbala.

The 2025 numbers continue to grow as IntelliNews previously noted average numbers have grown in recent years from around 3mn cross-border visitors in 2019, prior to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which shut down proceedings for two years. In 2018, it was reported that some 18mn visas were issued by Iraq to Iranians entering the country.