Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 22 Jun 2026, 7:26 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia restricted entry to Makkah from 13 April 2026 to Hajj permit holders only and suspended Umrah permits from 18 April to 31 May 2026 as the Kingdom prepares for the Hajj pilgrimage beginning around 25 May.
Saudia has launched Hajj 2026 operations with 160 aircraft and over one million seats spanning 145 global destinations, as part of Saudi Arabia's total air transport plan of 3.1 million seats across 12,000 flights.
Saudi Arabia has imposed fines of up to SAR 100,000 for facilitating unauthorised Hajj and up to SAR 20,000 for pilgrims performing Hajj without a permit, alongside 10-year re-entry bans for violators.
Look: Pilgrims pray on Mount Arafat in soaring temperatures as Hajj reaches peak Khaleej Times
Eid al-Adha a major Muslim holiday, and Saudi Arabia confirms start date The Columbus Dispatch
Saudi Arabia Accelerates Hajj 2026 Mobility With Al Mashair Metro Connecting Sacred Pilgrimage Routes and Transforming Religious Travel Experience—Key Details for Global Pilgrims Travel And Tour World
Saudi Arabia Hajj Springfield News-Sun
Saudi Arabia Hajj dailyrecordnews.com
Millions of pilgrims gather on Arafat for Hajj’s holiest day Gulf News