Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 25 Jun 2026, 12:26 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia will open priority accommodation reservations for Hajj 2027 to service providers from June 30 to August 13, 2026, as part of an early shift to integrated, regulated service packages.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved 73 companies qualified to serve domestic pilgrims, urging worshippers to contract only through official channels.
Saudi Arabia will require Hajj affairs office personnel to complete a compulsory training programme before receiving visas, part of reforms unveiled for the 2027 season.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has urged Hajj pilgrims to avoid sharing razors during tahallul, warning that shared blades can spread hepatitis and other bloodborne infections.
Pakistan has opened free mandatory registration for Hajj 2027 and is in talks with Saudi Arabia to raise its pilgrim quota from 179,210 toward around 230,000.
Saudi Arabia has fixed a chain of operational deadlines for the 2027 Hajj season, requiring pilgrim data uploads by mid-August and airlift agreements before November 8, 2026.