 Year-round, pilgrims stream into the city to perform the rites of 'Umrah, and during the last weeks of eleventh Islamic month, Dhu al-Qi'dah, on average 2-4 million Muslims arrive in the city to take part in the rites known as Hajj.Pilgrims are from varying ethnicities and backgrounds, mainly South and Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa.Many of these pilgrims have remained and become residents of the city.