Umrah and Ziyarah Forum: 19 million visited Rawdah in two years
Saudi Arabia's Hajj minister said more than 19 million people visited Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah in the Prophet's Mosque over two years, as the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum opened in Madinah.
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Last updated: 9 Nov 2026, 9:32 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's Hajj minister said more than 19 million people visited Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah in the Prophet's Mosque over two years, as the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum opened in Madinah.
Saudi Arabia's Public Security has reiterated that Hajj and Umrah firms face fines of up to SR100,000 for failing to promptly report pilgrims who overstay their authorised period, with penalties rising per unreported case.
Saudi authorities have advised Umrah pilgrims that the Grand Mosque is quietest from 10pm to 4am and 9am to 4pm, and busiest from 5pm to 9pm, and encouraged the use of live crowd-density tools to plan Tawaf and Sa'i.
Saudi Arabia has announced its 2027 Hajj reforms, making unified accommodation, transport and catering packages mandatory, cutting offerings to three categories and requiring compulsory staff training.
Iran has restarted Umrah travel to Saudi Arabia after a six-month halt, sending 18,000 pilgrims in the first phase while about five million voucher holders wait, with flights and foreign currency shaping the pace.
For the 1448 AH Umrah season, Saudi Arabia requires confirmed Nusuk hotel and transport bookings before a visa is issued, cuts entry validity to 30 days, and lets all visa types perform Umrah.
The aircraft reportedly took off from the Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath on Friday afternoon before losing contact.
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