Makkah
- Middle East
Brazilian footballer Kathleen Souza performs Umrah after embracing Islam
Makkah: Brazilian footballer Kathleen Souza, captain of Al Nassr’s women’s team, has performed the Umrah pilgrimage at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, after announcing that she converted to Islam, drawing…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia ready for Ramzan 2026 as millions set to visit Makkah, Madinah
Riyadh: Saudi authorities have completed wide-ranging operational, religious and municipal preparations for Ramzan 2026, as Makkah and Madinah prepare to receive millions of worshippers and Umrah performers during one of the busiest…
- Middle East
Warmer temperatures, below-average rainfall forecast in Makkah, Madinah this Ramzan
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology (NCM) has issued its preliminary climate outlook for the holy month of Ramzan 1447 AH/2026, predicting above-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall across the Makkah and…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia opens Makkah’s real estate market to foreign investors
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is opening up Makkah’s real estate market to foreign investors as part of a wider strategy to attract capital and diversify its oil-dependent economy, according to a Bloomberg report.…
- Hyderabad
Three months on, govt yet to disburse ex gratia for Madinah bus accident
Hyderabad: Nearly three months after the tragic Madinah bus accident, which claimed the lives of 45 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad, the Telangana government is yet to release the ex gratia amount. In…
- Middle East
Makkah completes preparations for Ramzan 2026 amid expected Umrah rise
Makkah: The Holy Makkah Municipality has confirmed it is fully prepared for Ramzan 1447 AH/2026, launching a comprehensive operational plan to handle the expected increase in Umrah pilgrims and visitors during the…
- Middle East
World’s largest handwritten Quran on display in Makkah museum
A magnificent handwritten copy of the Holy Quran measuring 312 by 220 centimetres and comprising 700 pages, which is recognised as the world’s largest Quran by the Guinness World Records, is being…
- Middle East
Saudi suspends Haj, Umrah travel agencies for not meeting standards
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has suspended contracts with 1,800 travel agencies due to performance shortcomings, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah announced on Sunday, February 1. Nearly 5,800 travel agencies operate in the…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia launches projects worth SAR 2.5 bn in Makkah, Jeddah
The Deputy Emir of Makkah, Prince Saud bin Mishaal, on Wednesday, January 28, launched 17 development projects worth SAR 2.5 billion in Makkah and Jeddah with an aim to improve the infrastructure…
- Entertainment
Shoaib Malik chooses spiritual path following PSL retirement
Mumbai: Ahead of Ramzan 2026, several celebrities have been visiting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to perform Umrah. Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik also took time off to travel to Saudi…
- Middle East
78 million people visit Makkah, Madinah in one month
The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques on Wednesday, January 21, announced that 78,843,425 people visited Makkah and Madinah in the month of Rajab (the seventh month of…
- Middle East
How to book an electric wheelchair for Harmain during Ramzan
With the holy month of Ramzan fast approaching, people want to perform Umrah in the Harmain. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to book an electric wheelchair for those who need assistance.…
- Bollywood
Lucky Ali takes break from music, heads to Umrah with family
Mumbai: Iconic singer Lucky Ali, known for timeless hits like O Sanam, Ek Pal Ka Jeena, Na Tum Jaano Na Hum and Kitni Haseen Zindagi Hai Yeh, has taken a brief break…
- Middle East
Man attempts suicide at Makkah’s Grand Mosque; security officer injured
Makkah: A man attempted to take his own life at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, December 25, prompting an emergency response from security personnel stationed at the holy…
- Middle East
Authorities set fines up to 100K Saudi Riyals for Haj transport violations
Makkah: The Royal Commission for Makkah and the Holy Sites has announced draft regulations for Haj transportation activities, outlining penalties with fines up to 100,000 Saudi Riyals. The move is aimed at…