Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 23 Sep 2026, 10:20 AM (Saudi time)
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites closed the 1447 Hajj with 93.1 percent pilgrim satisfaction, over 2.5 million transport movements, a 400-bed Mina hospital, and a record 1.2 million Adahi contracts.
Saudi Arabia Railways says the Haramain High Speed Railway moved more than 1.16 million pilgrims over 5,569 trips during the 1447 AH Hajj season, with on-time performance above 98 percent.
Saudi Arabia expanded AI across the 1447 Hajj, using SDAIA platforms Baseer and Sawaher for crowd monitoring, a multilingual robot, the Makkah Route Initiative, and the Nusuk Card for digital identity and medical records.
The Day of Ashura, the tenth of Muharram, is expected on June 25, 2026, as the Islamic year 1448 AH begins. Fasting it is a strongly recommended Sunnah that expiates the previous year's sins.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has set the Hajj 2027 booking calendar, with priority accommodation reservations opening June 30 and service contracts through Masar Nusuk from July 29.
Saudi Arabia has cut the Umrah entry visa validity from three months to 30 days, while requiring verified Nusuk hotel bookings before a visa is issued.
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