Umrah 2026 health rules: meningococcal vaccine now mandatory
Saudi Arabia requires all Umrah pilgrims aged one and above to show proof of a quadrivalent ACWY meningococcal vaccine, alongside new heat-safety measures for the summer season.
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Last updated: 24 Sep 2026, 10:08 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia requires all Umrah pilgrims aged one and above to show proof of a quadrivalent ACWY meningococcal vaccine, alongside new heat-safety measures for the summer season.
One of the world's largest cooling systems keeps the Grand Mosque in Makkah between 22C and 24C, protecting pilgrims from extreme summer heat.
Saudi Arabia has introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for one year, allowing pilgrims a cumulative stay of up to 90 days across several visits.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has published an official Umrah and Visit Guide in sixteen languages, offering step-by-step instructions from pre-travel preparation through the performance of the rituals.
Saudi Arabia has restructured its Hajj offerings for the 2027 season into three enhanced categories and discontinued the low-cost Package D, folding accommodation, transport and catering into a single mandatory package.
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