Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 28 Jul 2026, 1:06 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi and national health authorities have restated that the quadrivalent meningitis vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine are mandatory for Hajj 1448 AH pilgrims, alongside medical fitness declarations.
The Prophet's Mosque Library in Madinah has opened to post-Hajj pilgrims, offering access to around 4,000 original manuscripts, 250 rare handwritten Qur'ans and extensive digitized collections.
The Al Madinah Region Development Authority has equipped over 19,000 square meters of pedestrian walkways and launched a bilingual spatial guidance system to improve mobility for pilgrims around the Prophet's Mosque.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah suspended 21 Umrah service companies on June 13, 2026, citing poor performance and regulatory violations as it tightens standards across the sector.
Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs will open mandatory Hajj 2027 registration later in June 2026, requiring all applicants to hold passports valid until November 16, 2027.
Saudi Arabia's latest Vision 2030 data shows international Umrah arrivals hit a record 18.03 million in 2025, part of a wider tourism surge that saw nearly 123 million total visitors.
Hajj packages: Airfare cut by Tk 24,830 Prothom Alo English
Now you can get multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for one year Time Out Riyadh
New Saudi visa lets Umrah pilgrims visit multiple times within a year Euronews.com
Saudi Arabia's New Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa 2026: A Complete Guide to Validity, Rules and How to Apply Wego Travel Blog
Saudi Arabia Records Massive Umrah Religious Tourism Surge in 2026 as New Multiple-Entry Visa Policy Eases Access for Pilgrims from Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Egypt, and Iraq: New Travel Alert Nomad Lawyer
Saudi Arabia launches multiple-entry Umrah visa - The Jordan News Agency وكالة الانباء الاردنية