Tens of thousands of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia utilized the Metro service to travel between the holy sites during this year's annual Hajj season, the Saudi Transport Ministry said.

Saudi Arabia has barred more than 269,000 people without permits for the annual Hajj pilgrimage from entering Mecca this week, authorities said, as the world's largest annual gathering of people has officially begun.

Millions have made the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The kingdom faces scrutiny over safety after more than 1,300 people died last year.