Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 28 Jul 2026, 6:06 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has urged pilgrims to use its digital Umrah and Visit Guide, now available in 16 languages and covering every stage of the journey from visa to departure.
India's Hajj Committee will conduct its Qurrah digital random selection for the 2027 pilgrimage in the last week of July, with selected applicants required to pay an advance deposit by August 10.
A rare Quran manuscript attributed to the celebrated calligrapher Ibn Al-Bawwab, written over a thousand years ago, is on display at the Iqra exhibition in the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has fully migrated its Hajj and Umrah Data Center to cloud computing, upgrading the digital backbone that serves more than 20 million pilgrims and over 51 million Nusuk users each year.
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites has launched a SR16.3 billion program to redevelop seven central districts across more than 4.4 million square meters, awarding the work to national partners.
Saudi authorities are reminding Umrah pilgrims that visas cannot be extended and that overstaying can bring fines of up to SR50,000, jail and deportation, with the 1448 season's final exit set for April 2027.
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