Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 16 Sep 2026, 10:23 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia has introduced updated accommodation regulations and a two-tier classification system for facilities hosting Hajj pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah ahead of the 2027 season.
Iran has resumed sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Umrah after a six-month suspension, with 18,000 people scheduled in the first phase and about five million voucher holders still waiting.
Saudi Arabia has clarified that holders of the new year-long multiple-entry Umrah visa must book a fresh Nusuk service package and secure a new permit before every trip.
The Grand Mosque in Makkah has expanded mobility services for elderly pilgrims and people of determination, including rooftop golf carts, slow-paced Tawaf lanes, wheelchairs and round-the-clock volunteer support.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway moved more than 1.16 million passengers across 5,569 trips during the 1447 AH Hajj season, with on-time performance above 98 percent and up to 142 trips on peak days.
Pakistan opens its digitised Hajj 2027 application process on August 18 with Habib Bank as the sole banking partner, against a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims split 60/40 between government and private schemes.
Can You Perform Umrah Now? The 1448 AH Season Status Wego Travel Blog
The Iran-aligned militant group rejected the suggestion it had targeted Mecca, while the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attackSaudi Arabia’s air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy cit...
Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi drone headed for Mecca Al Jazeera
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted a drone before it entered Islam's holiest city, calling pilgrims' security a 'red line'
Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone that was heading toward Mecca.
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