Riyadh: With the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council proclaiming yesterday as the first day of Dhu Al Hijja, Saudi Arabia said the climax of this year's Haj would be on January 9.

On the final day of Haj, more than 2 million Muslims will retrace the footsteps of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and pause on Mount Arafat.

Accordingly, Muslims elsewhere will celebrate Eid Al Adha the next day, the Saudi body said in a statement. Every able-bodied adult Muslim must perform Haj, the annual pilgrimage which takes place in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.