Saudi Arabia introduces one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa
Planning a spiritual visit to Saudi Arabia? The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has just rolled out a new multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for a full year, allowing pilgrims to stay up to 90 days in total—but with one critical restriction that could change how you plan your trips. Here’s what you need to know before applying.
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Saudi Arabia introduces new meal policy for Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan
Saudi Arabia is rolling out a new policy that will require Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Egypt to pay a mandatory daily catering fee as part of their visa charges—a move that promises to streamline food services but also adds a new cost to the pilgrimage. Starting from 1st Rabi-ul-Awwal, the program will integrate meal vouchers directly into visa fees, linking thousands of restaurants to a digital platform. This shift is set to reshape how tour operators package their offerings, raising questions about how pilgrims and businesses will adapt.
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1,000-year-old Ibn Al-Bawwab Quran manuscript on display in Makkah
A rare Holy Quran manuscript, penned more than 1,000 years ago by the legendary calligrapher Ibn Al-Bawwab, is now on display at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. With only two known copies surviving worldwide, this exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the artistry that preserved the sacred text across centuries. Discover how this masterpiece of early Islamic manuscript art continues to shape our understanding of faith and craftsmanship.
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Umrah visa arrivals rise 22.5% to 931,500 at start of new season
Saudi Arabia has kicked off the new Umrah season with a surge in pilgrim arrivals, reporting a 22.5% increase in visa entries within just six weeks. With nearly one million visitors already arriving on Umrah visas, the Kingdom is signaling that its ambitious Vision 2030 goals for religious tourism are gaining momentum.
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Shifting travel rules, border restrictions leave many Minnesota Muslims afraid to perform Hajj
For Minnesota’s Somali Muslims, the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is a sacred duty—but under the Trump administration’s travel bans and heightened immigration enforcement, even U.S. citizens and green card holders now fear leaving the country. Travel agencies report canceled trips and plummeting demand as rumors of detention at the border spread through the community. At the same time, a new Saudi visa system has made the journey more expensive and confusing, leaving many faithful wondering if they can fulfill one of Islam’s five pillars at all.
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Egypt introduces new procedures governing Umrah trips
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism has unveiled a sweeping new set of regulations for the upcoming Umrah season—including a mandatory tracking app and a rule that companies cannot launch new trips until 70% of their pilgrims have returned. For the first time, every pilgrim will be monitored digitally from contract signing to homecoming, with airlines now required to provide meals and accommodation for significant flight delays. The crackdown targets unlicensed brokers and aims to transform a chaotic industry into a fully traceable, accountable system.
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Rural Farms in Madinah Emerge as Preferred Summer Evening Destination
As temperatures rise in Madinah, rural farms are becoming unexpected evening havens, drawing crowds with cooler air, misting systems, and green spaces that city parks can't match. These agricultural sites now double as thriving tourism hotspots, where families come for local food, play areas, and cultural events. But this shift is about more than comfort—it’s transforming the region’s economy, creating new opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs alike.
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Tabung Haji shuts door on special Haj fast lane for retirees, sticks with 'first-registered, first-served' rule
Despite years-long waits and growing demand, Malaysia’s Haj management body has firmly ruled out special fast-track pilgrimage offers for retiring civil servants, insisting that the “first-registered, first-served” system is the only fair path to Mecca. The decision raises the stakes for thousands of depositors who must now plan for decades-long queues even after retirement, with the government doubling down on transparency over convenience.
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Online registration for Haj 2027-30 surpasses 308,000 applicants
More than 308,000 Pakistanis have already registered online for Hajj between 2027 and 2030, signaling a massive shift toward digital pilgrimage planning. With the government aiming to collect fees online in the next phase, the process is becoming more accessible—but the sheer volume of applicants raises questions about capacity and future demand.
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Madinah leads Saudi Arabia in hotel occupancy during Q1 2026
Madinah has surged ahead of Makkah and other Saudi cities with an 82% hotel occupancy rate in early 2026, driven by the highest revenue per available room in the kingdom. The holy city’s tourism boom is reshaping the national hospitality landscape, as new licenses and record rates signal a growing shift in traveler demand.
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Maldives Launches First Direct Umrah Flight From Addu to Saudi Arabia
For the first time, pilgrims from the Maldives’ southern atolls no longer need to transit through the capital to reach Saudi Arabia for Umrah. A historic direct flight from Addu Gan International Airport has just departed, carrying 260 passengers—including children—on a journey that promises to reshape religious travel access for an entire region.
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$100m renovation begins at Makkah Hotel & Towers
A $99 million renovation is underway at Mecca’s five-star Makkah Hotel & Towers, set to expand capacity just as hotel occupancy in the city proves resilient despite regional turmoil. The project will add more rooms and apartments, with completion stretching into 2028—a bet on sustained demand from religious tourism even as foreign visitor numbers fluctuate.
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