Saudi Hajj Ministry Suspends 21 Umrah Companies Over Service Failures
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah service companies after evaluations found declining service quality and regulatory violations during the last season.
Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 18 Jun 2026, 7:06 PM (Saudi time)
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah service companies after evaluations found declining service quality and regulatory violations during the last season.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved 73 accredited companies to serve domestic pilgrims, urging Hajj-goers to contract only through official channels.
Indonesia has begun planning its 2027 Hajj operation with a focus on shielding pilgrims from rising aviation fuel costs, one of the largest components of the total pilgrimage bill.
Saudi Arabia has launched Roya, an AI and satellite-driven platform that monitors crowd density, traffic and heat across the holy sites to support Hajj and Umrah operations.
Saudi Arabia has unveiled a Hajj 2027 service overhaul that scraps Package D, consolidates offerings into three tiers, mandates a single integrated package, and ties staff permits to compulsory training.
The Haj Committee of India has opened the preliminary phase of the 2027 Hajj, advising pilgrims to ensure passports are machine-readable and valid until at least 31 December 2027.
Hajj pilgrims battle Mecca's scorching heat with ice cream and giant fans France 24
Deputy Chief of the Indonesian National Police Coordinates with Saudi Arabia to Strengthen the Protection of Hajj Pilgrims VOI.id
2026 Hajj: NAHCON reacts as Concern grows over alleged substandard services in Mina The Guardian Nigeria News
Saudi Arabia declares full readiness for Hajj as pilgrims prepare to flock to Mina Monday Saudi Gazette
Livestock traders in Pakistan say the war on Iran has hurt their sales ahead of Eid al-Adha.
Million gather in Makkah as hajj begins The Daily Star