Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 22 Sep 2026, 9:49 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia expanded AI across the 1447 Hajj, using SDAIA platforms Baseer and Sawaher for crowd monitoring, a multilingual robot, the Makkah Route Initiative, and the Nusuk Card for digital identity and medical records.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has set the Hajj 2027 booking calendar, with priority accommodation reservations opening June 30 and service contracts through Masar Nusuk from July 29.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics confirmed 1,707,301 pilgrims performed Hajj 2026, with detailed breakdowns by origin, entry point and gender.
Indonesia has begun planning its 2027 and 2028 Hajj seasons early, with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah flagging rising aviation fuel prices as a key threat to pilgrim costs.
Saudi Arabia has made staff training a prerequisite for Hajj visas and permits in 2027, alongside a mandatory integrated service model and a defined contracting timetable for providers.
Saudi and national health authorities have restated that the quadrivalent meningitis vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine are mandatory for Hajj 1448 AH pilgrims, alongside medical fitness declarations.
Virtual meeting between Myanmar Ambassador U Nay Myo Oo and Dr. Abdul Fattah bin Sulaiman Mashat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.(31-8-2026, Riyadh) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs နိုင်ငံခြားရေးဝန်ကြီးဌာန
Hajj and Umrah Committee discusses plans and arrangements for next Hajj season Saudi Gazette
Photos show Muslim pilgrims in Mecca as annual Hajj pilgrimage ends Houston Chronicle
Crown prince salutes Hajj workforce at Eid reception in Mina アラブニュース
Muslim pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia as the Hajj reaches its peak apnews.com
Accor Makkah launches ‘Holy Destinations’ to unify booking processes for Hajj, Umrah Hotelier Middle East