Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 24 Jun 2026, 5:12 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.
Muslim faithful leave Makkah after Hajj Gulf Today
Global heating is making hajj ever more dangerous, report finds The Guardian
Makkah Deputy Governor Reviews Hajj Sanitation, Food Safety Achievements وكالة الأنباء السعودية
Makkah Deputy Governor Reviews Civil Defense Operations for Hajj Season وكالة الأنباء السعودية
Hajj 2026: Kano officials raise concern over pilgrims’ welfare in Saudi Arabia The Guardian Nigeria News
‘I am no shaitan’: Hajj pilgrim’s reaction during devil-stoning ritual goes viral Khaleej Times