Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 6 May 2026, 1:30 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia requires meningococcal ACWY vaccination, medical fitness certificates, and bars pilgrims with major organ failure or severe chronic conditions from Hajj 2026.
Claims that Saudi Arabia banned photography inside Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi for Hajj 2026 are false. No official directive has been issued and existing photography etiquette rules remain unchanged.
Saudi Arabia has introduced a minimum age of 15 for all Hajj 2026 pilgrims, effective May 3. Full refunds are assured for affected bookings.
A spiritual guide to maintaining the transformation of Hajj after returning home: seven daily habits (prayer, Quran, charity, righteous company, abandoning sins, istighfar), signs of an accepted Hajj, and the Prophetic duas for the returning pilgrim.
A practical guide to mobile connectivity for Hajj 2026: free SIM cards for Pakistan and India pilgrims, eSIM recommendations, coverage at each holy site, data needs (5-20GB), essential apps, and battery-saving tips.
A complete guide to menstruation during Hajj 2026: what women can and cannot do, the Tawaf al-Ifadah vs Tawaf al-Wada' distinction, Sa'i rulings across the four madhabs, period delay medication, and practical tips.
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Hajj 2022: dates, packages, Covid rules and all you need to know The National
Hajj 2021: How the pilgrim routes to Makkah and Madinah evolved over the centuries Arab News