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thehajj.guide Analysis (Page 15 of 123)

umrah 6 Sep 2026

Umrah visa arrivals rise 22.5% as new 1448 season gathers pace

Saudi Arabia recorded a 22.5% rise in Umrah visa arrivals at the start of the 1448 AH season, with 931,500 pilgrims entering the Kingdom, led by Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq.

By Abdul Akbar Read →

makkah 6 Sep 2026

Grand Mosque smart systems cut pilgrim wait times to nine minutes

Saudi Arabia's digital overhaul of the Grand Mosque has cut pilgrim transport waits from two hours to nine minutes and now manages 38 million iftar meals digitally, part of a push to make the site among the world's smartest by 2030.

By Abdul Akbar Read →

hajj 6 Sep 2026

Saudi Arabia makes medical certificates mandatory for Hajj 2027 visas

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah now requires all Hajj 2027 pilgrims to upload medical certificates to Nusuk before visa approval, with the quadruple meningitis vaccine mandatory and polio, yellow fever and flu jabs required or advised.

By Abdul Akbar Read →

saudi 3 Sep 2026

Haramain railway expands fleet to move more pilgrims

The Haramain High-Speed Railway is expanding its fleet with 20 new Talgo trains due by 2028-2031, adding capacity for the millions of pilgrims travelling between Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.

By Abdul Akbar Read →

makkah 3 Sep 2026

Grand Mosque expansion gathers pace as holy cities transform

Saudi Arabia's Third Expansion of the Grand Mosque is advancing as part of a wider transformation of Makkah and Madinah aimed at hosting tens of millions of pilgrims annually under Vision 2030.

By Abdul Akbar Read →

hajj 3 Sep 2026

Saudi Arabia tightens Hajj 2027 accommodation standards

Saudi Arabia has approved stricter accommodation regulations for Hajj 2027, classifying facilities as economy or first-class and adding inspections before and during the season.

By Abdul Akbar Read →