Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 7 May 2026, 1:02 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.
Why do Muslims make the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca? Sahan Journal
Standing where Prophet Muhammad gave his final sermon, 2 million Muslims perform Hajj NPR
2 million begin Hajj as pilgrimage returns to full capacity for first time since pandemic PBS
What is it like living in Mecca? For residents, Islam’s holiest sites are simply home AP News
Journey to Mecca: Scenes from the Haj pilgrimage Reuters
‘Largest Hajj pilgrimage in history’ begins in Saudi Arabia Al Jazeera