Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 4 May 2026, 5:35 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia implements Green Hajj 2026 initiatives: recycling 50 tonnes of Ihram garments, converting food waste to fertiliser, processing 12,000 tonnes of slaughterhouse waste, and deploying animal health safeguards.
A guide to the 10 most common mistakes pilgrims make during Hajj - from leaving Arafah early to neglecting hydration - with practical advice on how to avoid each one based on Islamic sources and pilgrim experience.
Saudi Arabia bars pilgrims with kidney failure, advanced heart disease, COPD, severe neurological disorders, and cancer from Hajj 2026. Mandatory medical fitness certificates and vaccinations enforced, with deportation for non-compliance.
Saudi Arabia deploys the Baseer AI platform and real-time colour-coded crowd tracking at the Grand Mosque for Hajj 2026, part of 150+ initiatives across 60 languages to manage millions of pilgrims safely.
A comprehensive guide for UK pilgrims performing Hajj 2026: Nusuk booking, direct flights from Heathrow and Manchester, FCDO advisory, health requirements, package costs from GBP 5,000-25,000+, and essential checklist.
Trump extended the US-Iran ceasefire indefinitely on April 21 as Hajj arrivals continue. Iran seeks dialogue but tensions persist. Saudi security fully mobilised for 1.8 million pilgrims expected in late May.
Saudi Arabia Bans Over 250,000 People From Mecca During Hajj Pilgrimage Newsweek
Muslims make their way to Mina during hajj pilgrimage from the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia Reuters
Millions of Muslims gather for Hajj: See the 2025 pilgrimage to Mecca USA Today
Video. Pilgrims begin Hajj in Mecca amid heat and new restrictions Euronews.com
Pilgrims gather in Saudi Arabia for Hajj Al Jazeera
Five Things to Know About Hajj Pilgrimage This Year Newsweek