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News for pilgrims

Visa rules, Nusuk and Rawdah changes, transport and season dates — short, with what it means for your trip.

  • Illegal Entry and Fraud During Hajj: 13 Arrested

    Illegal Entry and Fraud During Hajj: 13 Arrested

    MINA — Hajj Security Forces arrested 12 expatriates and one Saudi citizen for violating Hajj rules and regulations in three separate incidents. In the first incident, five Turkish residents were arrested for violating Hajj regulations and instructions by attempting to enter Makkah through dirt roads and valleys without obtaining Hajj permits. Legal action was taken against them. Security patrols in Makkah also arrested four residents of Indian and Bangladeshi nationalities for fraud and deception through publishing fake and misleading advertisements for Hajj services on social media platforms.

  • 243 million goods for pilgrims in Makkah

    243 million goods for pilgrims in Makkah

    The Ministry of Commerce announced that more than 243 million essential goods have been supplied to markets and retail outlets across Makkah and the holy sites since the beginning of Dhul Hijjah.

  • Cooling Engineering Systems at the Holy Sites of Hajj

    Cooling Engineering Systems at the Holy Sites of Hajj

    MINA— As more than 1.5 million pilgrims from all around the world gather in Makkah for the upcoming annual pilgrimage amid rising temperatures, successful organization of a hassle-free Hajj extends far beyond logistics and traffic control. What appears to observers as simple open walkways is, in reality, a meticulously engineered environment designed to mitigate the sun's impact and alleviate heat stress on pilgrims.In recent years, expansive shading and cooling projects have become an essential pillar of the infrastructure at the holy sites. At the forefront of these efforts are extensive pat

  • Saudi Arabia Prohibits Charging Power Banks on Airplanes

    Saudi Arabia Prohibits Charging Power Banks on Airplanes

    RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation issued a new circular to all airlines operating at the Kingdom’s airports updating regulations governing the carriage of portable chargers (power banks) and electronic devices aboard aircraft.The authority said the updated measures align with international civil aviation safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and are aimed at strengthening aviation safety and security.Under the new rules, passengers and cabin crew are prohibited from recharging portable power banks while onboard aircraft.The regulations also restri

  • 5G in Sacred Places: Revolutionizing Connectivity for Hajj 2026

    5G in Sacred Places: Revolutionizing Connectivity for Hajj 2026

    Saudi Arabia has fully completed the deployment of the 5G network across all sacred sites ahead of the 2026 Hajj. This was announced on May 20, 2026, by the country's Ministry of Information. Full 5G coverage is now available throughout the sacred sites, including Masjid al-Haram, Arafat, Mina, and Muzdalifah — key locations where pilgrims perform the main Hajj rituals. Additionally, the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission has installed over 10,500 Wi-Fi access points in Mecca, Medina, and the sacred sites, providing each pilgrim with free high-speed internet without the need to purchase a local SIM card. 🌴 @SaudiaUAE