Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 17 Sep 2026, 10:12 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia recorded 931,500 Umrah arrivals from the start of the 1448 season to the end of Muharram, a 22.5 percent rise year on year, led by pilgrims from Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq.
New 1448-season regulations cap organised Umrah programs at 15 days, with an exception allowing up to 35 days for trips between 15 Sha'ban and 17 Ramadan.
Saudi Arabia will require foreign Hajj affairs office staff to complete a mandatory training programme before receiving visas and permits for the 2027 season, part of a wider service overhaul with a detailed contracting and visa timeline.
The Nusuk app now offers AI-based crowd alerts, a colour-coded gate capacity system and zero-data access for the 2026 Umrah season, with bookings and permits tied directly to the visa process.
As Makkah temperatures climb into the low 40s Celsius, Saudi authorities have expanded misting stations, cooling and support services to protect summer Umrah pilgrims.
Egypt has approved new 1448 AH Umrah regulations requiring pilgrim ID cards, GPS tracking of buses inside Saudi Arabia, and stricter program length limits.
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