Latest updates from top global and Saudi news sources
Last updated: 10 Nov 2026, 7:39 AM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia opened the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah on November 8, drawing more than 520 organisations from over 150 countries. The four-day event features specialised workshops and a new training forum as the kingdom prepares for the 1448 AH season.
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites has opened a new extension of the Third Ring Road, reducing travel time to the Grand Mosque and the Jamarat facility by up to 90 percent. The upgraded network can carry up to 170,000 vehicles a day as the city prepares for peak Umrah and Hajj traffic.
Flight cancellations at major Saudi airports have disrupted Umrah travel in October 2026, prompting India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia to advise pilgrims and operators to prepare for delays and check flight status closely.
Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Madinah this week, and Indian missions arranged the return of about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended four Umrah service companies and four overseas agents for housing pilgrims in unlicensed accommodation, part of a widening enforcement drive under the Pilgrim Experience Program.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that a full year, 365 days, must pass before a pilgrim can obtain a new permit to visit the Noble Rawdah in the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, with bookings handled through the Nusuk app.
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