Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 3 May 2026, 5:23 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia has deployed portable passport processing devices at all entry ports for Hajj 2026, allowing officers to process pilgrims at their location rather than requiring them to queue at fixed desks.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway carried 2 million passengers in Q1 2026 as Saudi Arabia scales up rail operations for Hajj season, offering pilgrims a 2-hour journey between Makkah and Madinah.
Saudi Arabia implements Green Hajj 2026 initiatives: recycling 50 tonnes of Ihram garments, converting food waste to fertiliser, processing 12,000 tonnes of slaughterhouse waste, and deploying animal health safeguards.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has ordered full mobilisation of security and operational plans for Hajj 2026, with new electronic monitoring, 230+ surveillance cameras, and mandatory Nusuk smart cards.
No COVID-19 cases reported among pilgrims in Saudi Arabia Arab News