Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 18 Sep 2026, 10:23 AM (Saudi time)
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.
Saudi health authorities have confirmed the meningococcal ACYW vaccine as a mandatory entry requirement for Hajj 2027, alongside COVID-19, polio and routine immunisation guidance.
Saudi Arabia is discontinuing Package D and making a bundled accommodation, transport and catering model mandatory for Hajj 2027, alongside compulsory staff training.
Saudi Bus Accident: Mecca To Madinah Journey Turns Tragic For Indian Umrah Pilgrims, 42 Feared Dead zeenews.india.com