Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 12 Nov 2026, 10:00 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's rail network moved more than 83 million passengers in the first half of 2026, a 16 percent rise that underlines the growing role of trains in moving pilgrims and residents across the Kingdom.
The UAE has opened registration for Emirati citizens who have not performed Hajj to apply for the 1448 AH/2027 season between September 14 and 25, with places allocated through an automated system.
Saudi Arabia's Nusuk Masar platform now runs Hajj contracting, payments, visas and crowd scheduling on a single calendar of fixed deadlines, with airline and service agreements due to be concluded in late 2026.
After years of extreme summer heat, the Hajj is set to move gradually into cooler months from 2027 as the Islamic lunar calendar shifts, even as Saudi Arabia expands record cooling and shading infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism has revised four regulations covering travel services, tourist guides, hospitality facilities and private hospitality units, with implications for pilgrims booking accommodation and services.
Officials say digital tools have cut pilgrim waiting times at the Grand Mosque from about two hours to roughly nine minutes, part of a drive to make the site one of the world's smartest by 2030.
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