Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 23 Sep 2026, 10:20 AM (Saudi time)
Knight Frank reports that Makkah and Madinah hotels stayed resilient in early 2026, with Makkah the Kingdom's top market, as Saudi Arabia builds toward 30 million pilgrims a year by 2030.
King Salman has approved opening completed sections of the King Abdullah expansion at the Grand Mosque, adding space for at least 500,000 more worshippers as Umrah demand rises.
Saudi Arabia recorded more than 11.29 million Umrah performers between October and December 2025, according to new GASTAT figures, with international pilgrims slightly outnumbering domestic ones.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah service companies after performance reviews found low service levels and regulatory violations ahead of the 1448 season.
Saudi Arabia's Nusuk app now offers a zero-data feature that lets Umrah pilgrims access permits, maps and emergency contacts without mobile data or Wi-Fi.
Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defense has launched early preparations for the 2027 Hajj, evaluating services and safety compliance before the last 1447 pilgrims departed.