Saudi Ministry Suspends 21 Umrah Companies Over Service Failures
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah service companies for poor performance and regulatory breaches, underscoring tighter oversight of the sector.
Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 23 Sep 2026, 10:20 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah service companies for poor performance and regulatory breaches, underscoring tighter oversight of the sector.
Astronomers say the Hajj is moving out of peak summer heat into milder spring and winter seasons for roughly 25 years, easing conditions for pilgrims.
Corendon Airlines has begun direct Antalya-Jeddah Umrah flights for the 2026-2027 season and plans to add services from five more Turkish cities.
With July among the hottest months in Makkah, pilgrims are urged to time rituals carefully and use the Kingdom's expanded cooling network to stay safe.
Saudi Arabia General Authority for Statistics has confirmed that 1,707,301 pilgrims performed Hajj 2026, with a detailed register-based breakdown by nationality, arrival method, gender, and workforce.
India has announced its Haj Policy 2027, adding an AI assistant for pilgrims, a tighter supervision ratio, two-step medical screening and revised eligibility rules. Applications opened on 22 June 2026.
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