Approximately two million Muslims have gathered in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca for the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage - but the make up of foreign visitors this year has changed, reflecting the tumultuous political relationships in the region.

Devotees from all over the world spend Thursday - Arafat Day - in prayer at holy sites in the city before the Eid al-Adha festival begins on Friday 1 September.

Eid al-Adha is one of the holiest celebrations in Islam and marks the end of the Hajj, which must be undertaken at least once in a lifetime by all physically and financially capable Muslims.

Eid celebrated in Trafalgar Square

Qatari pilgrims hoping to make the holy journey this year were thwarted from their goal, however, after Saudi Arabia refused to issue Hajj visas for Qatari citizens and residents.

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Doha, which coordinates trips, said on Tuesday that it did not find “any cooperation or positive response from the [Saudi] Ministry of Hajj, which has led to confusion and suspension of the regulatory process for Qatar's pilgrims”.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt abruptly cut off all diplomatic and trade ties with tiny Qatar on 5 June, alleging that the state interfered in the affairs of its neighbours and funded terror organisations.

Hajj 2017 Show all 16 1 /16 Hajj 2017 Hajj 2017 A Muslim pilgrim partakes in the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, near Mecca, which marks the final major rite of the hajj Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Muslim pilgrims take part in the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, near Mecca, which marks the final major rite of the hajj Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 A Muslim pilgrim partakes in the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge in Mina Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 A Muslim pilgrim has his head shaven after throwing pebbles at pillars during the symbolic stoning of the devil Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 A Muslim pilgrim's head is shaved, after throwing pebbles at pillars during the symbolic stoning of the devil Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 A Saudi policeman spays Muslim pilgrims with water to cool them off near the Grand Mosque Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Mecca Bandar Aldandani/AFP Hajj 2017 Muslim pilgrims at the Grand Mosque Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Iranian Muslim pilgrims wait at Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Muslim worshippers perform prayers around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 An Iranian Muslim pilgrim reads the Koran as she waits at Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Saudi Red Crescent paramedics show the press their emergency equipment Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Muslim worshippers perform prayers around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Muslim worshippers perform prayers around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Muslim worshippers walk around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca Karim Sahib/AFP Hajj 2017 Muslim pilgrims sit around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca Karim Sahib/AFP

Qatar vehemently denies all the allegations against it and claims the crisis is politically motivated.

The Hajj decision stands in stark contrast to how pilgrims from Iran - Riyadh’s regional rival - have been treated this year.

The two countries have no formal diplomatic ties, and tensions between them are currently running at an all time high.

Last year, Iran ordered its citizens to boycott Mecca and Medina after the 2015 Hajj stampede which killed approximately 2,000 people - the majority of them Iranian.

In pictures: Hajj stampede Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede Hajj pilgrims and Saudi emergency personnel carry a woman on a stretcher at the site where at least 700 were killed and hundreds wounded in a stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia Getty Images In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede In pictures: Hajj stampede

This year, however, 90,000 Iranians are expected to descend upon the holy sites - and Riyadh has even organised welcome operations for flights incoming from Tehran.

In a speech to Hajj organisers on Sunday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the country would never forget the “catastrophic events” of 2015, calling on Saudi Arabia to ensure pilgrims’ safety.