Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 13 Nov 2026, 9:27 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia has launched an early registration-of-interest process on the Nusuk Hajj platform for international pilgrims planning Hajj 2027, though registering does not confirm a booking.
Pakistan has deferred enforcement of its new NADRA-linked digital vaccination card for Umrah pilgrims until September 25, after airport authorities warned the system was not ready for immediate rollout.
Saudi Arabia has approved updated regulations classifying Hajj accommodation into economy and first class, with multi-stage inspections and a schedule of violations ahead of the 2027 season.
Iran has resumed sending Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia after a six-month suspension, with 18,000 travelling in the first phase while about five million voucher holders remain on a waiting list.
The UAE has opened online registration for Emirati citizens seeking to perform Hajj in 2027, with applications accepted from September 14 to 25 and selection handled by an automated system.
Saudi authorities say digital systems have cut pilgrim waiting times at the Grand Mosque from about two hours to nine minutes, part of a push to make the site among the world's smartest by 2030.