Makkah Route Initiative Serves 388,694 Pilgrims Across 10 Countries
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior concluded the eighth edition of the Makkah Route Initiative, pre-clearing 388,694 pilgrims in their home countries across 10 nations.
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Last updated: 8 Nov 2026, 5:07 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior concluded the eighth edition of the Makkah Route Initiative, pre-clearing 388,694 pilgrims in their home countries across 10 nations.
As the lunar calendar moves Hajj out of peak summer from 2027, Saudi Arabia continues to expand a record cooling and shading operation across Makkah and the holy sites, while urging pilgrims to take personal heat precautions.
India released its Haj Policy 2027 on 22 June 2026 and opened applications, retaining the 70:30 quota split, adding Kolkata as an embarkation point, tightening medical screening and planning AI-assisted pilgrim services.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah companies for poor performance and regulatory violations, urging pilgrims to use only licensed operators.
Saudi Arabia has banned entry, including for Umrah pilgrims, from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan over an Ebola outbreak, with extra health screening for travellers from four nearby countries.
Bangladesh has released its Hajj 2027 roadmap, asking pilgrims to register by September 26, 2026, with visas issued from January 2027 and Hajj expected on May 15, 2027.
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