Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 9 May 2026, 1:17 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia restricted entry to Makkah from 13 April 2026 to Hajj permit holders only and suspended Umrah permits from 18 April to 31 May 2026 as the Kingdom prepares for the Hajj pilgrimage beginning around 25 May.
Saudi Arabia has imposed fines of up to SAR 100,000 for facilitating unauthorised Hajj and up to SAR 20,000 for pilgrims performing Hajj without a permit, alongside 10-year re-entry bans for violators.
Why this year’s Hajj was so deadly Vox
More than 1,300 People Died During 2024 Hajj; Authorities Cite Intense Heat and Unauthorized Pilgrims as Factors ASIS
Pilgrim Deaths in Mecca Put Spotlight on Underbelly of Hajj Industry (Published 2024) The New York Times
Extreme heat kills 1,301 pilgrims during the Hajj in Mecca grist.org
Hajj Deaths: Tragedies In Mecca are Far From Rare Statista
More than 1,300 pilgrims died during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year, officials say PBS