Haj
- Middle East
Watch: Kaaba’s Kiswah raised ahead of Haj 2026
Makkah: As part of the preparations for the 1447 AH (2026) Haj season, authorities in Makkah have raised the lower portion of the Kiswah — the black silk covering of the Kaaba…
- Top Stories
First batch of Indian pilgrims arrives in Saudi Arabia for Haj
Jeddah: The first batch of Indian pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, April 18, for the annual Haj pilgrimage, the Indian mission in Riyadh said. “The first group of Indian Hajis…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia to begin issuing visas for Haj 2026 from Feb 8
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Friday, February 6, announced that it will issue visas for Haj 2026 from Sunday, February 8. According to the Ministry, the Haj visas are…
- 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
Oldest Saudi man who performed Haj over 40 times passes away
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s oldest man, Nasser bin Radan Al Rashid Al Wadaei, passed away at the age of 142 on January 8 in Riyadh and is said to have performed Haj pilgrimage…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia launches package preferences for Haj pilgrims
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Friday, January 9, announced the launch of the Package Preference Phase via the Nusuk Hajj platform for the 2026 season, targeting pilgrims from countries…
- Entertainment
List of 13 actors who performed Umrah and Haj in 2025
2025 is all set to draw its curtains and the world is getting ready to welcome 2026 with a bang. The year has been marked not only by professional milestones for celebrities…
- Television News
Bigg Boss 19’s Baseer Ali reveals his Umrah, Haj plans with wife
Mumbai: TV actor and reality show star Baseer Ali, once considered one of the strongest contestants and a potential finalist of Bigg Boss 19, was evicted much earlier than expected. He could…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia approves major overhaul to foreign pilgrim services law
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has approved major amendments to the Foreign Pilgrim Service Providers Law, abolishing the long-standing tawafa bodies and replacing them with a new system of Haj hospitality companies. Under the…
- Middle East
Bilateral Haj agreement signed with Saudi Arabia; India’s quota fixed for 2026
New Delhi: Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has signed the bilateral Haj Agreement in Jeddah, with the country’s quota for India confirmed at 175,025 for the pilgrimage in 2026. Rijiju, who was…
- India
Haj 2026: HCI extends payment deadline to November 7
Hyderabad: The Haj Committee of India has extended the last date for payment of Haj 2026 expenses till November 7. Chief Executive Officer Shahnawaz announced that all selected pilgrims, either through the…
- Telangana
Haj 2026: 1928 Telangana pilgrims from waiting list selected
Hyderabad: The Haj Committee of India has approved the waiting list for Haj 2026, clearing applicants from 11 states. In the first phase, pilgrims from Telangana in the waiting list numbers 1…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk app now works without mobile data
Makkah: In a groundbreaking digital initiative, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has introduced a new feature enabling pilgrims to use the Nusuk app without consuming mobile data. Developed in collaboration…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia sees 101 pc rise in foreign pilgrim arrivals in 2024
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) recorded a 101 percent increase in pilgrim arrivals in 2024 compared to 2022, according to the Pilgrim Experience Programme’s annual report. The sharp rise is…
- Middle East
Haj to be held in summer after 25 years, says Saudi govt
Saudi Arabia has announced that it will take 25 years for Haj to take place in summer season from now. The National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) stated that the next Haj will…
