Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 21 Sep 2026, 11:04 AM (Saudi time)
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has opened Hajj 2027 preparations with meetings involving Hajj affairs offices from more than 75 countries, while officials reviewed Jeddah airport's performance.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched Direct Umrah, a digital service letting pilgrims at home and abroad book approved Umrah packages online through authorized travel platforms.
The Umrah 1448 AH season is drawing to a close. Saudi Arabia set September 23 as the final date for Umrah pilgrims to enter the Kingdom and April 7, 2027 as the final date to depart.
Qatar's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs opened Hajj 2027 registration on September 20, running to October 20, for a quota of 4,400 pilgrims. A health fitness certificate is now a mandatory first step.
Saudi Arabia has declined Nigeria's request to raise its 2027 Hajj allocation, keeping the quota at 50,000. NAHCON warned that the September 26 data-upload deadline will not be extended.
Indonesia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has found close to 400,000 invalid records while auditing its national Hajj queue of about 5.7 million entries, a discovery that could change the country's long waiting periods.
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