Makkah
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia to penalise illegal Haj pilgrims, facilitators
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has announced a penalty of Saudi Riyal (SAR) 20,000 for illegal Haj pilgrims and those who facilitate such travellers. The ministry introduced a list of penalties that…
- Middle East
Makkah hotels to accommodate Haj permit holders from April 29
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has instructed all hospitality facilities in Makkah to refuse accommodation to visitors without a Haj permit or an entry permit for work or…
- Middle East
Indian pilgrim saved after stroke during Umrah at Grand Mosque
An Indian pilgrim was recently saved by a specialised medical team after suffering a stroke while performing Umrah rituals at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Emergency teams from the Saudi…
- Middle East
Haj 2025: Saudi Arabia bans entry into Makkah from April 29
Pilgrims and visitors will not be allowed to enter Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from Tuesday, April 29, without a valid Haj 1446 AH-2025 permit. This move is part of a wider set of…
- News
Saudi Arabia warns pilgrims against unofficial Haj channels
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah warned those wishing to perform Haj against dealing with unofficial channels. In a statement on X, the Ministry stressed that entry…
- Middle East
Turkish woman denied entry to Makkah’s Grand Mosque over Palestine headband
A Turkish woman who travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah was denied entry to the Grand Mosque in Makkah after authorities objected to her wearing a headband symbolising Palestine — an incident…
- Middle East
Umrah 2025: Saudi Arabia announces final entry and exit dates
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has announced that Shawwal 15, 1446 AH, corresponding to Sunday, April 13, will be the last day for Umrah pilgrims to enter…
- Middle East
Over 122 million worshippers visit Two Holy Mosques in Ramzan
A total of 122,286,712 worshippers visited the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia during the holy month of Ramzan 1446 AH-2025. Of the total, 16,558,241 pilgrims performed Umrah, while 75,573,928 worshippers attended…
- Middle East
Watch: Satellite debris spotted across Saudi skies
The debris of a Starlink 5314 satellite was spotted blazing across the sky over Saudi Arabia, captured by Khaled Al-Baridi from the Al-Bukayriyah region in Al-Qassim, according to the International Astronomy Centre…
- Middle East
Record 4.1 million attend Khatam Al Quran at Grand Mosque
More than 4.1 million worshippers and Umrah pilgrims gathered at the Grand Mosque in Makkah for Isha and Taraweeh prayers, marking the completion of the Quran recitation (Khatam Al Quran) on the…
- Middle East
Watch: First air evacuation from Grand Mosque’s new helipad
Riyadh: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority has successfully carried out the first-ever air medical evacuation from the Grand Mosque in Makkah, marking a significant milestone in emergency healthcare services for visitors. This…
- Middle East
Eid Al-Fitr 2025: Saudi Arabia calls on Muslims to sight moon on Saturday
Saudii Arabia’s Supreme Court on Thursday, March 27, called on all Muslims living in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Shawwal 1446 AH-2025 on Ramzan 29 corresponding to Saturday evening, March 29. In…
- Middle East
Over 4.2M worshippers pray at Grand Mosque on 27th night of Ramzan
Riyadh: More than 4.2 million worshippers and pilgrims thronged the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday night, March 26 (27th night of Ramzan 1446 AH), a night widely believed to…
- Middle East
Makkah’s Grand Mosque free of construction cranes after 15 years
For the first time in 15 years, the skyline of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is free of construction cranes, marking the near completion of the largest expansion in its…
- Middle East
Watch: Air ambulance test lands at Grand Mosque’s new helipad
Saudi Arabia’s Red Crescent Authority successfully conducted a test landing of an air ambulance at the helipad within the third Saudi expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The helipad is designated…
