In the Holy Haramain (the two holy mosques), women go to the mosque just like men for prayers, although there is a specific entrance and designated prayer area for women. However, due to the immense crowd of pilgrims during the Hajj, they often cannot reach their designated area and end up standing among men to start the prayer. This practice is not permissible.
It should be remembered that just as it is better for women to pray at home in their own country, it is also better for them to pray at home in Makkah and Madinah without congregation. The reward they attain from praying in Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi without congregation is the same as praying at home. Therefore, during the time of standing in prayer (Qiyam), women should pray in their designated area. However, when they go to Masjid al-Haram for the purpose of visiting the House of Allah or performing Tawaf, or when they go to Masjid al-Nabawi with the intention of sending Salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and praying, and if it is time for prayer, then they should pray in congregation at the designated spot for women.
However, it should be noted that if a woman accidentally finds herself amidst the rows of men exactly at the time of prayer and finds it difficult to leave, then she should quietly sit somewhere without joining the congregation wherever she is, and should not join the congregation because her joining would invalidate the prayers of the men in front and behind her. So, when the Imam finishes the prayer, she should preferably move away from men and pray alone in a suitable place.
If during Tawaf, the time for prayer coincidentally arrives, then as soon as the call to prayer is heard, quickly complete the Tawaf and reach the designated area for women to pray in congregation. If it is not possible to return to the designated area after completing the Tawaf, then leave the Tawaf halfway, perform the prayer, and then resume the Tawaf from where it was left.
