Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 13 Sep 2026, 11:08 AM (Saudi time)
The Nusuk app has added six features for pilgrims, including an automatic Tawaf and Sa'ee round tracker, live crowd levels, interactive mosque maps, a Qibla finder, in-app flight and hotel booking, and an AI assistant.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has published the 1448 AH Umrah calendar, setting March 9, 2027 as the final date for visa issuance and April 7, 2027 as the last departure date.
Saudi authorities have launched a suite of online services for the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, letting visitors check crowd levels, view interactive maps and plan their visit before they arrive.
Official GASTAT data shows more than 15.2 million people performed Umrah in the first quarter of 2026, with domestic pilgrims making up nearly two-thirds and international arrivals travelling mostly by air.
Saudi Arabia has launched a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for 365 days with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days, though each visit still requires a Nusuk service package and permit, and the visa is paused during Hajj season.
Saudi Arabia has clarified that the new 365-day multiple-entry Umrah visa still requires a fresh Nusuk service package and permit for every visit, with a pooled 90-day stay limit.
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