Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 18 Jun 2026, 7:06 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will open accommodation contracting for the 2027 season on June 30, 2026, as integrated service packages and mandatory staff training take effect.
A Saudi law effective January 22, 2026 keeps Makkah and Madinah property ownership reserved for Muslims while creating narrow pathways for licensed foreign-owned companies serving pilgrims.
With Hajj 2026 over, Saudi authorities have launched a vast operation to dismantle temporary facilities, inspect infrastructure, and prepare Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah for the next pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia's Makkah Route Initiative concluded its 1447 AH operations after pre-clearing 388,694 pilgrims from 10 countries, adding Senegal and Brunei for the first time.
Saudi authorities upgraded the Grand Mosque's Zamzam water system for the 1447 AH Hajj season, distributing more than 2.1 million cups daily through 169 fountains backed by 70 daily quality tests.
Makkah developer Umm Al Qura has launched a 2026-2030 strategy to become a multi-city development platform and secured a 1.2 million square metre site to be built as Masar Gardens.
Muslim pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia as the Hajj reaches its pinnacle PBS
Muslim pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia as the Hajj reaches its pinnacle PBS
A Gaza City school taught children how to perform the entire Hajj, as Palestinians miss the pilgrimage for a third year.
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