Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 21 Sep 2026, 11:04 AM (Saudi time)
The National Centre for Meteorology forecasts above-average August temperatures and stronger winds across Saudi Arabia, prompting heat-safety guidance for Umrah pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs has launched a fully digital 'New Muslim' card issued automatically through the Tawakkalna app, with a QR code for instant verification.
Saudi Arabia will allocate 98 percent of Nigeria's Hajj quota to licensed private operators under a Vision 2030 business-to-business model, as NAHCON shifts to a regulatory role ahead of a tightly scheduled 2027 season.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for 365 days, letting pilgrims enter the Kingdom several times within a cumulative 90-day stay.
The first group of 250 pilgrims from 16 countries has performed Umrah under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program, part of 1,000 guests hosted this year at King Salman's expense.
Saudi Arabia is building an 8.5 million square metre Waste Processing City south of Mecca, due for completion by the end of 2027, to serve the holy city and its pilgrims for up to 60 years.