Saudi Arabia Cuts Umrah Entry Visa Validity to 30 Days
Saudi Arabia has shortened the Umrah entry visa validity from three months to one month from the date of issuance, requiring pilgrims to plan travel more carefully for the 1448 AH season.
Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 15 Jun 2026, 1:33 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia has shortened the Umrah entry visa validity from three months to one month from the date of issuance, requiring pilgrims to plan travel more carefully for the 1448 AH season.
Saudi Arabia has begun early preparations for the 2027 Hajj, unveiling integrated service packages, a three-tier package structure that ends Package D, and mandatory training for Hajj office staff.
An exhibition in Makkah is displaying a rare wooden platform once used near the Black Stone to direct pilgrims during Tawaf, highlighting early crowd-management methods at the Grand Mosque.
Saudi Arabia's Makkah Route Initiative pre-cleared 388,694 pilgrims at 17 departure points in 10 countries during Hajj 2026, with Senegal and Brunei Darussalam joining the programme for the first time.
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites completed the second phase of its Arafat shading and cooling project, expanding covered areas fivefold to more than 272,000 square metres ahead of Hajj 2026.
Saudi Arabia deployed more than 39,000 trained volunteers across the holy sites, border crossings and pilgrim cities during Hajj 2026, coordinated through a unified digital command centre linking 16 organisations.
Kano provides free daily bus service for pilgrims in Makkah Tribune Online
Unified Security Operations Center 911 in Makkah Region Serves as Vital Support for Pilgrims وكالة الأنباء السعودية
Journey to Mecca: Scenes from the annual hajj pilgrimage MSN
NAHCON commends stakeholders for hitch-free 2026 hajj operations Peoples Gazette Nigeria
Journey to Mecca: Millions gather for annual hajj pilgrimage Reuters
Muslim pilgrims gather outside Nimrah Mosque at the Plain of Arafat, outside the holy city of Mecca Reuters