Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 23 Sep 2026, 10:20 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia has unveiled Hajj 2027 reforms, introducing mandatory unified packages that bundle accommodation, transport and catering, scrapping the budget Package D, and requiring staff training for visas.
Saudi authorities have confirmed fines of up to SR100,000 for Umrah firms that fail to report overstaying pilgrims, alongside SR50,000 fines, jail and deportation for individuals who overstay their visas.
The National Centre for Meteorology forecasts above-average August temperatures and stronger winds across Saudi Arabia, prompting heat-safety guidance for Umrah pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs has launched a fully digital 'New Muslim' card issued automatically through the Tawakkalna app, with a QR code for instant verification.
Saudi Arabia will allocate 98 percent of Nigeria's Hajj quota to licensed private operators under a Vision 2030 business-to-business model, as NAHCON shifts to a regulatory role ahead of a tightly scheduled 2027 season.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for 365 days, letting pilgrims enter the Kingdom several times within a cumulative 90-day stay.