Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 20 Jun 2026, 5:11 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission and the University of Exeter uncovered more than 1,700 artefacts at the historic Al Juhfah miqat, including kilns, a water channel and Umayyad and Abbasid-era tombstones.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched the Masar Nusuk digital service to automate Umrah contracting for the 1448 AH season, using unified electronic contracts with QR-code verification.
Saudi Arabia is building an 8.5 million square metre Waste Processing City south of Mecca, set for completion by end of 2027 and designed to serve the holy city for up to 60 years.
Saudi Arabia built its largest-ever cooling infrastructure for Hajj 2026, expanding shaded areas at Arafat fivefold; research links the decade-long programme to a 74.6% drop in heat-stroke cases.
Saudi Arabia's statistics authority confirmed 1,707,301 pilgrims performed Hajj 2026, up from 1.67 million in 2025, with international arrivals making up the vast majority.
Madinah's Prophet's Mosque has welcomed post-Hajj pilgrims with an integrated service system featuring crowd management, multilingual guidance, Rawdah flow control and round-the-clock care.
Over 1.7 Million Pilgrims Gather in Mina as Hajj 2026 Begins The Kashmir Horizon
Saudi Arabia says that is 11,000 more than the number of Muslims who travelled to the Gulf kingdom last year.
More than 1.5m foreign pilgrims begin Hajj despite Iran war fears BBC
Over 1.5m fill Makkah’s tent city The Daily Star
Saudi Arabia launches first drone medicine delivery service during Hajj Arabian Business
Saudi Arabia: 1.5 Mn join Hajj pilgrimage despite war dailynews.lk