Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 13 Sep 2026, 11:08 AM (Saudi time)
Iran has resumed sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Umrah after a six-month suspension, with 18,000 people scheduled in the first phase and about five million voucher holders still waiting.
Saudi Arabia has clarified that holders of the new year-long multiple-entry Umrah visa must book a fresh Nusuk service package and secure a new permit before every trip.
Saudi forecasters expect a hotter-than-normal August with stronger winds and dust, prompting heat-safety guidance for Umrah pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.
Saudi Arabia has welcomed more than 931,500 Umrah pilgrims so far in 2026, a 22.5 percent rise on the same period last year, led by visitors from Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq.
Saudi Arabia has introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for 365 days, allowing repeat visits within a one-year window and a combined stay of up to 90 days.
Madinah's Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah, chaired by Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan, reviewed operational plans, sector readiness and pilgrim statistics for the current Umrah season serving the Prophet's Mosque.
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