Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 18 Sep 2026, 10:23 AM (Saudi time)
New data shows Makkah and Madinah hotels outperforming the wider Saudi market in early 2026, with Makkah occupancy near 84 percent in January. Pilgrimage remains a core driver of the Kingdom's tourism economy.
The first of four groups under King Salman's Guests Program has reached Makkah and performed Umrah. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is hosting 1,000 pilgrims from around the world at his own expense this year.
Saudi authorities have announced separate daily entry times for men and women wishing to enter Hijr Ismail at the Grand Mosque, aiming to ease crowding and regulate movement around the Kaaba.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman Gate project, rising beside the Grand Mosque, is set to add capacity for around 900,000 worshippers as the Kingdom targets 30 million pilgrims a year by 2030.
Saudi Arabia has declared the 2026 Hajj season complete, with 1,707,301 pilgrims from 165 nationalities taking part under an integrated system of security, organization and services.
Saudi Arabia's Cabinet has approved a single national visa platform under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aiming to streamline how visas are issued and managed across the Kingdom.
Saudi Bus Accident: Mecca To Madinah Journey Turns Tragic For Indian Umrah Pilgrims, 42 Feared Dead zeenews.india.com