Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 20 Jun 2026, 1:17 AM (Saudi time)
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.
Bangladesh has released its Hajj 2027 roadmap, setting a September 26, 2026 registration deadline and a detailed timeline running through the expected pilgrimage on May 15, 2027.
Saudi Arabia's Nusuk app now offers offline 'zero-data' access to permits, maps and emergency contacts for the 1448 AH Umrah season, alongside multilingual support and crowd-management alerts.
The Haj Committee of India has advised pilgrims to ready their passports as Hajj 2027 registration is expected to open soon, following Saudi Arabia's release of the Hajj 1448 AH Preparation Document.
How Saudi Arabia is using AI to transform the Hajj experience Al Arabiya English
Photos of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca Chron
Grand Mosque launches smart navigation system to ease pilgrim movement Gulf News
Saudi Arabia mobilizes massive Hajj security operation as pilgrim arrivals exceed 1.5 million Gulf News
SFDA chief reviews Makkah facilities ahead of Hajj 1447 AH | Associated Press Of Pakistan
Fueled by faith, some US Muslims embark on Hajj against a backdrop of regional tensions seMissourian