More than two million Muslims have begun the annual hajj as the Saudi hosts seek to deter politicization of the pilgrimage against a backdrop of simmering Gulf tensions.

Worshippers are set to participate in weekly prayers late on Friday morning.

 “All of the arms of state have been deployed [and] we are proud to serve as ‘God’s hosts’,” said security forces spokesman Bassam Attia.

According to a local media, in total some 2.5 million faithful, the majority from abroad, are set to undertake the pilgrimage this year.

A total of 126,923 Bangladeshi pilgrims are set to perform Hajj both under government and private management, a bulletin said released by Bangladesh Hajj Management Portal under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

“More than 1.8 million visas were delivered online without the need for middlemen, which is a success,” said hajj ministry official Hatim bin Hassan Qadi.

Mecca, built in a desert valley, is home to the Kaaba, and Muslims around the world, pray towards it while the pilgrims walk around it seven times.

During the pilgrimage separate streams of men and women, grouped by nationality, will travel to Mina on foot or in buses provided by the authorities.

A Saudi official said a total of 350,000 air-conditioned tents have been pitched.

Worshippers will climb Mount Arafat, also known as the “Mount of Mercy,” for hours of prayers and Koran recitals.

After descending, they will gather pebbles and perform the symbolic “stoning of the devil,” which marks the beginning of Eid al-Adha.

This year’s hajj is taking place to a backdrop of Gulf tensions following a series of attacks on tankers, the downing of drones and maritime traffic being intercepted.

Riyadh blames regional foe Tehran for the attacks on commercial shipping, accusations Iran vehemently denies.

As in previous years, Saudi authorities have been at pains to stress that the hajj is a religious event and have sought to prevent its politicization.

Riyadh claimed its two-year embargo on Doha --which includes restrictions on Qataris travelling to the kingdom --would not affect the pilgrimage.

Saudi’s hajj ministry reportedly accused Qatar of politicizing the hajj and creating obstacles for Qatari pilgrims.

The hajj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, is one of Islam’s five pillars and must be undertaken by all Muslims with the means at least once in their lives.

It consists of a series of religious rites which are completed over five days in Islam’s holiest city and its surroundings in western Saudi Arabia.