Makkah
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia launches one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa
Makkah: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has introduced a one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa, allowing pilgrims to make multiple visits to the Kingdom during its 365-day validity. The new visa replaces…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia sees 22.5 pc surge in Umrah visa arrivals
Saudi Arabia has recorded a 22.5 per cent increase in Umrah visa arrivals during the opening weeks of the 1448 AH/2026 season, welcoming 931,500 pilgrims between Dhu Al-Hijjah 15 and the end…
- Middle East
1,000-year-old Ibn Al-Bawwab Quran manuscript on display in Makkah
Makkah: A rare Holy Quran manuscript penned more than 1,000 years ago by the celebrated calligrapher Ali bin Hilal, known as Ibn Al-Bawwab, is being exhibited at the “Iqra” Exhibition at the…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia wraps up Haj 2026, begins planning next season
Makkah: Saudi Arabia has concluded the Haj 2026 (1447 AH) season with the departure of the last group of pilgrims, marking the end of a large-scale operation that supported worshippers from their…
- Middle East
Inside Kaaba washing ceremony: Saudi showcases ceremonial tools
Makkah: Saudi Arabia has unveiled a specially designed toolkit used during the annual washing of the Holy Kaaba, highlighting the Kingdom’s efforts to preserve one of Islam’s oldest traditions while enhancing services…
- Entertainment
Rakhi Sawant reveals Haj plans; fans say ‘there’s no one like her’
Mumbai: Rakhi Sawant is one celebrity who can turn absolutely anything into a headline. Whether it is drama, controversy, laughter or an emotional moment, she has a way of keeping everyone talking.…
- Middle East
Watch: Ceremonial washing of Kaaba held at Makkah’s Grand Mosque
Makkah: The annual ceremonial washing of the Holy Kaaba was held on Tuesday, June 30, at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, continuing one of Islam’s oldest and most revered traditions. On behalf…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia to hold annual washing of Kaaba on June 30
Makkah: Saudi Arabia will hold the annual washing of the Holy Kaaba on Tuesday, June 30, corresponding to the 15th of Muharram, as one of the most significant religious ceremonies associated with…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia launches new portal for foreigners to buy property
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has unveiled a new digital platform allowing eligible foreign individuals, companies and investors, including Indians, to apply for property ownership in the Kingdom under the Foreign Real Estate Ownership…
- Middle East
Makkah: Saudi Arabia announces Hateem entry timings
Makkah: Saudi Arabia has announced designated entry timings for worshippers wishing to offer voluntary prayers in the Hateem, also known as Hijr Ismail, the semi-circular area adjacent to the Holy Kaaba inside…
- Middle East
Kaaba Kiswah changed as new Islamic year 1448 begins
Makkah: The Kiswah of the Kaaba (Ghilaf-e-Kaaba) at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, has been changed in an intricate annual ritual. The ceremony took place Tuesday morning, June 16, the…
- Middle East
New Kiswah ready for annual replacement of Kaaba
Makkah: Saudi Arabia has completed the new Kiswah, the black silk covering of the Holy Kaaba, ahead of its annual replacement at the Grand Mosque in Makkah with the start of the…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia: Over 11 million pilgrims perform Umrah in Q4 2025
Makkah: Saudi Arabia recorded more than 11 million Umrah performers during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025, reflecting sustained demand for pilgrimage travel and religious tourism across the Kingdom. According to a…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia suspends 21 Umrah companies over poor performance
Makkah: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah service companies after performance evaluations revealed shortcomings in service quality and breaches of regulations governing the sector. The ministry said…
- Middle East
Eid al-Adha 2026: Pilgrims ‘stone the devil’ as Haj nears end
Makkah: Haj pilgrims from around the world began the symbolic Jamarat ritual, known as the “stoning of the devil”, on Wednesday, May 27, marking the first day of Eid Al-Adha, or the…
