Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 21 Sep 2026, 11:04 AM (Saudi time)
For the 1448 season, Saudi Arabia has cut the Umrah visa entry window to 30 days, made Nusuk-linked hotel and transport bookings mandatory before issuance, and allowed holders of all visa types to perform Umrah.
Saudi Arabia's Hajj 2027 roadmap sets service-package agreements from late July 2026, pilgrim data uploads from August, visa issuance from 28 January 2027 and flights from 8 April 2027, all coordinated through Nusuk Masar.
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.