Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 21 Jun 2026, 6:51 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia restricted entry to Makkah from 13 April 2026 to Hajj permit holders only and suspended Umrah permits from 18 April to 31 May 2026 as the Kingdom prepares for the Hajj pilgrimage beginning around 25 May.
Saudia has launched Hajj 2026 operations with 160 aircraft and over one million seats spanning 145 global destinations, as part of Saudi Arabia's total air transport plan of 3.1 million seats across 12,000 flights.
Saudi Arabia has imposed fines of up to SAR 100,000 for facilitating unauthorised Hajj and up to SAR 20,000 for pilgrims performing Hajj without a permit, alongside 10-year re-entry bans for violators.
Saudi Arabia Eid Al‑Adha 2026, The Festival of Sacrifice Drives Pilgrimage Travel, Cultural Connections and Tourism Growth: All You Need to Know Travel And Tour World
Muslim pilgrims perform Hajj rituals under intense heat as Eid al-Adha celebrations start Boston Herald
10 violators penalized for transporting 34 persons to Makkah without Hajj permits Saudi Gazette
10 violators penalized for transporting 34 persons to Makkah without Hajj permits Saudi Gazette
Hajj pilgrims perform rituals in soaring heat as Eid al-Adha celebrations begin The Killeen Daily Herald
Hajj pilgrims perform rituals in soaring heat as Eid al-Adha celebrations begin Ottumwa Courier