Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 22 Sep 2026, 9:49 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi authorities say digital systems have cut pilgrim waiting times at the Grand Mosque from about two hours to nine minutes, part of a push to make the site among the world's smartest by 2030.
Saudi Arabia's Hajj and Umrah ministry says there are no new requirements for Umrah pilgrims from over 170 countries, while expanding digital services and suspending underperforming companies.
Saudi Arabia's multiple-entry Umrah visa is valid for 365 days with a 90-day total stay, but pilgrims must still book a Nusuk package and obtain a permit for every visit.
The OIC, Muslim World League and several governments condemned a Houthi drone attempt to strike Makkah, calling it a violation of Islam's holiest sites and expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will host the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah from November 8 to 11 under King Salman's patronage, gathering more than 520 organisations across three service tracks.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched Direct Umrah, letting pilgrims book Umrah packages online through licensed platforms including Wego, ShareTrip and Wakanow. The service is part of a wider digital shift centred on the Nusuk app.
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