Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 4 May 2026, 1:39 AM (Saudi time)
A warning guide on Hajj 2026 scams: fake operators, phishing Nusuk websites, substandard packages, and visa fraud. Red flags to watch for, how to book safely through official channels, and what to do if scammed.
A complete step-by-step guide to performing Sa'i between Safa and Marwah at Hajj 2026: when to perform it, the green marker rules, duas, wudu requirements across the four madhabs, and practical tips.
A practical guide to the Hajj sacrifice (Hady) for 2026: who must sacrifice, acceptable animals, timing, how to arrange it through operators or Saudi sacrifice banks, the fasting alternative, and the distribution of meat.
A practical guide to the night at Muzdalifah during Hajj 2026: combined prayers, pebble collection (49-70 needed), sleeping under the open sky, Fajr supplication, departure before sunrise, and what to pack.
Saudi meteorologists confirm Hajj exits summer in 2026 and will remain in cooler months for 25 years. Late May temperatures of 38-43C are still serious but significantly below the 45-48C peak that caused 1,300+ deaths in 2024.
260 Iranian pilgrims arrived in Madinah on April 25, the first of 30,000 expected under a Tehran-Riyadh agreement for Hajj 2026. The reduced quota (down from 87,550) reflects conflict-era logistics constraints.
Pilgrim Deaths in Mecca Put Spotlight on Underbelly of Hajj Industry (Published 2024) The New York Times
Extreme heat kills 1,301 pilgrims during the Hajj in Mecca grist.org
Maryland couple among dead on Mecca pilgrimage amid extreme heat NBC4 Washington
Hajj Deaths: Tragedies In Mecca are Far From Rare Statista
More than 1,300 pilgrims died during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year, officials say PBS
At least 1,300 hajj pilgrims died during extreme heat, Saudi Arabia says The Guardian