During the 2025 Hajj, many pilgrims and nurses recognized the strain of sun exposure but had limited understanding of ultraviolet (UV) protection, according to a qualitative interview study by Omar Qaladi and colleagues, published in PLOS One. The researchers say the findings point to a need for Hajj health messages that explain heat and UV as distinct hazards.
The team interviewed 16 Saudi pilgrims and 13 registered nurses about their experiences, knowledge and sun-protection practices. The interviews took place by Zoom within about a month after Hajj. The researchers analyzed participants’ accounts and grouped their findings into five themes, including knowledge gaps, cultural influences, barriers to protection and suggestions for improvement.
Participants often described sun exposure in terms of heat: exhaustion, dizziness, dehydration and near-fainting. The researchers report that UV-specific effects, such as sunburn or eye irritation, were rarely raised. That pattern matters because feeling hot and being exposed to UV radiation are related but different risks. The paper explains that heat can contribute to dehydration and heat-related illness, while UV exposure can harm skin and eyes and increase long-term skin-cancer risk. The protections also differ: cooling, rest and hydration address heat stress, while sunscreen and UV-rated clothing or umbrellas reduce UV exposure. Shade can help with both.
Many interviewees were unfamiliar with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) ratings and the UV Index. Some assumed that any umbrella or covering garment would provide the same protection, although the paper notes that protection depends on the material. The interviews suggest that general advice to avoid the sun or drink water did not necessarily give participants a clear understanding of UV risks or the products designed to reduce exposure.
Beliefs and circumstances shaped how people used protection. Some participants described pilgrims viewing exposure to the sun as part of Hajj’s spiritual challenge. Others described practical obstacles: forgetting or carrying bulky umbrellas, difficulty finding specialized products, cost concerns, language barriers when nurses tried to communicate with pilgrims, and clothing needs that could make heat protection difficult. These are participants’ reported experiences, not estimates of how common each barrier is among all pilgrims.
The study also records participants’ recommendations: provide education before and during Hajj, make it culturally appropriate and available in pilgrims’ languages, and improve access to affordable protective items. These suggestions were not tested as interventions in the study. The authors argue that messages should address heat and UV separately, so people can understand which protective measures respond to each risk.
The findings offer a detailed account of one Hajj season, not a survey of the international pilgrimage population. All pilgrim participants were Saudi, and the interviews relied on people recalling their experiences after the event. The authors note that recall and social-desirability bias are possible, and that the qualitative design cannot establish how widespread the reported beliefs or practices are. Still, the interviews bring attention to an underexplored part of Hajj health communication: explaining UV exposure and protection alongside the more familiar focus on heat.