Pakistan Launches Online Hajj Payments as 2027 Registrations Top 150,000
Pakistan has introduced online Hajj payments through its 1LINK interbank network as registrations for Hajj 2027 surpassed 150,000, advancing a fully digital pilgrimage system.
Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 16 Sep 2026, 10:23 AM (Saudi time)
Pakistan has introduced online Hajj payments through its 1LINK interbank network as registrations for Hajj 2027 surpassed 150,000, advancing a fully digital pilgrimage system.
Pilgrims preparing for Hajj 2027 must meet Saudi Arabia's health requirements, including a mandatory meningococcal ACYW vaccine, alongside recommended flu, pneumococcal and COVID-19 shots.
Saudi Arabia's statistics authority GASTAT confirmed 1,707,301 pilgrims performed Hajj in 2026, detailing arrivals by origin, gender, and travel mode, a modest rise over 2025.
Saudi Arabia has expanded the Saudi Visa Bio app, letting Umrah pilgrims register fingerprints and facial data from their smartphones and removing the need to visit visa centers in supported countries.
Saudi Arabia has scrapped the budget-tier Package D for Hajj 2027 and replaced it with three premium categories bundling accommodation, transport, and catering, prompting concern over higher costs for pilgrims.
King Salman has approved hosting 1,000 Umrah pilgrims from 66 countries as royal guests at his personal expense, beginning with 250 pilgrims from 16 Asian nations in the first of four phases during 1448 AH.
Can You Perform Umrah Now? The 1448 AH Season Status Wego Travel Blog
The Iran-aligned militant group rejected the suggestion it had targeted Mecca, while the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attackSaudi Arabia’s air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy cit...
Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi drone headed for Mecca Al Jazeera
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted a drone before it entered Islam's holiest city, calling pilgrims' security a 'red line'
Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone that was heading toward Mecca.
Maldivians in Makkah are safe: Shaheem edition.mv