Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 4 May 2026, 5:35 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.
Saudia has launched Hajj 2026 operations with 160 aircraft and over one million seats spanning 145 global destinations, as part of Saudi Arabia's total air transport plan of 3.1 million seats across 12,000 flights.
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.
Illegal Hajj Risks: Saudi Arabia Issues 10-Year Entry Ban Tempo.co English
Abu Dhabi urges pilgrims to prepare early for Hajj Gulf News
Saudi Arabia Restores Hajj Eligibility for Pilgrims Aged 12 and Above After Reversing Under‑15 Ban — What Travelers Must Know Travel And Tour World
Al-Masjid al-Haram Prepares for Ramadan 2026 Pilgrimage Surge AD HOC NEWS
43,019 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia, seven died daily-sun.com
From years of waiting to seamless arrival: Indonesian pilgrim’s Hajj journey reflects Saudi push for smoother rites Arab News