Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 20 Jun 2026, 12:02 PM (Saudi time)
A gold plaque from 1707 that once adorned the Kaaba's gate is on display at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture in Makkah, part of a collection tracing centuries of care for the holy sites.
The sun aligned almost perfectly over the Kaaba on May 28, 2026, letting Muslims worldwide verify the Qibla. The overlap with Eid al-Adha happens only once every 33 years.
Saudi Arabia is opening regulated investment access to Makkah and Madinah, drawing global capital into a hospitality boom aimed at hosting 30 million Umrah pilgrims a year by 2030.
Saudi Arabia's Makkah Route Initiative concluded its 1447 AH operations after pre-clearing 388,694 pilgrims on 1,227 flights from 17 ports across 10 countries, with Senegal and Brunei joining for the first time.
The Haj Committee of India has begun the preliminary phase for Hajj 2027, advising pilgrims to ready passports valid until at least December 31, 2027 after receiving Saudi preparation documents.
Saudi Arabia has discontinued the budget Package D and restructured Hajj 2027 services into three regulated tiers, introducing a mandatory integrated package and compulsory training for Hajj personnel.
Eid al-Adha a major Muslim holiday, and Saudi Arabia confirms start date The Columbus Dispatch
Saudi Arabia Accelerates Hajj 2026 Mobility With Al Mashair Metro Connecting Sacred Pilgrimage Routes and Transforming Religious Travel Experience—Key Details for Global Pilgrims Travel And Tour World
Saudi Arabia Hajj Springfield News-Sun
Saudi Arabia Hajj dailyrecordnews.com
Millions of pilgrims gather on Arafat for Hajj’s holiest day Gulf News
Hajj 2026 could be the costliest season on record Al Majalla