Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 13 Nov 2026, 9:27 AM (Saudi time)
The Hajj Committee of India has ordered candidates selected for Hajj 2027 to complete a preliminary medical examination and upload the results by September 15, 2026, or risk cancellation.
Saudi Arabia will not issue a Hajj 2027 visa without a medical fitness certificate processed through Nusuk Masar, making health clearance a firm condition of travel rather than a formality.
GASTAT data show more than 15.2 million people performed Umrah in the first quarter of 2026, and the new 1448 AH season has opened with a 22.5 percent rise in international arrivals.
Egypt has approved new 2027 tourist Hajj regulations introducing binding contracts, the Rafiq digital tracking app, pilgrim service ratings and stricter bus and accommodation standards, with registration open until September 27.
Saudi Arabia will host the sixth Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah from November 8 to 11, 2026, gathering officials and industry leaders from more than 95 countries around themes of innovation and sustainability.
Saudi Arabia has welcomed 250 Umrah pilgrims from 23 African countries to Madinah under King Salman's Guests Program, which is hosting 1,000 worshippers from around the world at the King's expense this year.