Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 20 Sep 2026, 10:23 AM (Saudi time)
King Salman is hosting 1,000 Umrah performers at his own expense this year. The second group of 250 pilgrims from 23 European and Asian countries has completed Umrah and praised Saudi hospitality.
From August 14, 2026, catering became a compulsory part of Umrah packages for pilgrims from Egypt, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, turning meals from an optional extra into a contracted, monitored service.
Saudi Arabia's Nusuk app has added six new features, including a Tawaf and Sa'ee round tracker, live crowd levels, interactive mosque maps, a Qibla finder, in-app travel booking and an AI assistant.
Saudi Arabia will require Hajj affairs office personnel to complete a compulsory training programme before they can obtain the visas and permits needed to work during the 1448 AH Hajj season.
The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques held an interactive exhibition at the Grand Mosque from August 16 to 20, 2026, featuring displays on the Kiswa, Zamzam water, and virtual reality experiences.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has released the official 1448 AH Umrah calendar, setting March 9, 2027 as the final visa issuance date and March 23, 2027 as the last day for pilgrims to enter the Kingdom.
Businesses in Makkah, Madinah expecting 40% losses from Umrah pilgrimage ban Arab News