Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 20 Sep 2026, 10:23 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia built its largest-ever cooling infrastructure for Hajj 2026, expanding shaded areas at Arafat fivefold; research links the decade-long programme to a 74.6% drop in heat-stroke cases.
Saudi Arabia's statistics authority confirmed 1,707,301 pilgrims performed Hajj 2026, up from 1.67 million in 2025, with international arrivals making up the vast majority.
Madinah's Prophet's Mosque has welcomed post-Hajj pilgrims with an integrated service system featuring crowd management, multilingual guidance, Rawdah flow control and round-the-clock care.
Saudi Arabia has launched a national Tech Challenge inviting entrepreneurs to build digital solutions for crowd management, the pilgrim experience, and language services across Hajj and Umrah.
Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense has begun early safety planning for Hajj 2027, focusing on year-round inspections, heat protection at Arafat and emergency readiness ahead of the next pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia's 1448 AH Umrah season runs from mid-2026 through April 2027, with visa issuance ending March 9, entry until March 23 and a final departure deadline of April 7, 2027.
Businesses in Makkah, Madinah expecting 40% losses from Umrah pilgrimage ban Arab News