Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 20 Sep 2026, 10:23 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's rail network carried over 83 million passengers in the first half of 2026, up 16 percent, with the Haramain High-Speed Railway serving around 3.6 million pilgrims and travellers between Makkah and Madinah.
More than 340,000 Pakistanis have registered online under the country's first four-year Hajj policy for 2027 to 2030, which lets applicants register once for a pilgrimage in any year up to 2030.
Saudi Arabia has unveiled reforms for the 2027 Hajj season, cutting packages to three tiers, bundling accommodation, transport and catering into one mandatory service model, and requiring training for Hajj office staff abroad.
Qatar's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs will open registration for the 2027 Hajj on September 20, with a national quota of 4,400 pilgrims and a mandatory health fitness certificate for applicants.
Saudi Arabia's 1448 Umrah season introduces a 30-day entry window, mandatory verified bookings and pre-arrival health checks before permits are issued.
Saudi Arabia's Nusuk platform has surpassed 51 million users and now offers zero-data access, a digital wallet and AI crowd tools for pilgrims.
Businesses in Makkah, Madinah expecting 40% losses from Umrah pilgrimage ban Arab News