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The Latest Breaking News from Makkah

Ramadan 2026: Registration opens for I’tikaf at Makkah and Madinah mosques, here’s how to apply

Registration is now open for i'tikaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, commencing on 20 Ramadan. Worshippers can apply electronically to observe this spiritual practice in a safe and organized environment during the final ten days of Ramadan.

The Times of India

Saudi Arabia Ramadan 2026 weather outlook: Hotter days and lighter rain forecast for Makkah and Madinah

Pilgrims heading to Makkah and Madinah for Ramadan should expect warmer weather. Saudi Arabia's meteorology center predicts above-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall. Daytime conditions will feel noticeably warmer, especially in the afternoons. Any precipitation is expected to be light. This forecast helps authorities prepare services for worshippers during the holy…

The Times of India

Mecca museum unveils legendary Blue Quran: Viral pictures of 1,100-year-old masterpiece with Surah Al-Baqarah verses break the Internet

The Holy Quran Museum in Mecca has unveiled a rare folio from the legendary ‘Blue Quran’, a 9th-century manuscript renowned for its deep blue parchment and gold ink. This significant exhibit highlights the rich history of Islamic calligraphy and manuscript art, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's role in safeguarding global religious heritage.

The Times of India

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Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to begin issuing Hajj 2026 visas from Sunday

Saudi Arabia has launched visa processing for the 2026 Hajj season, nearly four months ahead of schedule. This proactive measure, part of Vision 2030, aims to enhance service readiness, improve pilgrim comfort, and streamline logistics. Contracts for holy site services and Makkah accommodations are finalized, with significant pilgrim registration already…

The Times of India

Makkah hailstorm alert: Heavy rain and strong winds forecast across Saudi Arabia

The National Center for Meteorology issued an urgent alert for Makkah, forecasting intense winter storms with moderate to heavy thunderstorms, hail, and 60 km/h winds. Flash flood risks are high in valleys and low-lying areas, with rough seas expected along the Red Sea coast. Authorities urge extreme caution, especially for…

The Times of India

Victim List Reveals Many Mecca–Medina Pilgrims Travelled Through Two Hyderabad Agencies

A victim list has revealed that most pilgrims feared lost in the Mecca–Medina bus crash had booked through just two Hyderabad agencies: Makkah Travels and Flyzone Travels.

International Business Times UK

Mushfiqur Rahim Captures Serenity in Makkah's Sacred Aura

Mushfiqur Rahim shares a stunning photo from the sacred city of Makkah, where spirituality thrives and profound reflection is embraced.

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Haj flight flagged off from Karipur

The inaugural Haj flight from Calicut International Airport, Karipur, took off on Sunday morning carrying 145 pilgrims to Makkah. Minister for Minority Welfare and Waqaf V. Abdurahiman flagged off the flight.

The Hindu

Saudi Crown Prince Performs Eid Al-Fitr Prayer at Grand Mosque

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, performed the Eid Al-Fitr prayer at the Grand Mosque with the crowds of worshipers who filled the mosque and the surrounding courtyards in Makkah. Following the prayer, the Crown Prince received princes, scholars, sheikhs, ministers on Eid…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Eid Al-Fitr Prayer Performed Across Saudi Arabia

Muslims across Saudi Arabia performed Eid Al-Fitr prayer in the early hours of Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Worshipers flocked to mosques and open-air spaces throughout the Kingdom to perform the prayer, SPA Said. The Eid prayer at the Grand Holy Mosque in Makkah was led by Advisor at…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Over 2.5 million Attend Completion of Quran Recitation in Makkah

Over 2.5 million worshippers gathered to perform the Isha and Taraweeh prayers and witness the completion of the Holy Quran recitation at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. In line with the directives of the Saudi leadership, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia Mobilizes Resources to Serve Pilgrims

Saudi Arabia has deployed all its human and technological resources to serve Umrah pilgrims and visitors. Approximately 36 million pilgrims were transported to the holy city of Makkah during this year’s holy month of Ramadan. With the influx of pilgrims and visitors increasing, the Kingdom’s security agencies are placing numerous…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Abbas Arrives in Jeddah to ‘Hold Talks, Strengthen Saudi-Palestinian Relations’

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Monday in Jeddah on an official visit at the invitation of Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported. He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of Makkah region. WAFA added that Abbas would…

Asharq Al-Awsat

From Founder to Grandson... Saudis Between Two ‘Bay’ahs’

Prince Mohammed bin Salman was appointed Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in Al-Safa Castle in Makkah, just meters away from where King Abdulaziz received the first royal pledge around a hundred years ago. On Wednesday, June 21, 2017, corresponding to 26 Ramadan 1438 AH, King Salman issued a royal decree,…

Asharq Al-Awsat

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Asharq Al-Awsat

ACWA Power to Develop $677 Mln Desalination Project in Saudi Arabia

ACWA Power has signed water purchase agreements for the 600,000 cubic meter per day Rabigh 4 Independent Water Plant (IWP) in Saudi Arabia. Valued at around SAR 2.54 billion ($677 million), the reverse osmosis plant will serve Makkah and Madinah regions, which typically see a spike in demand during Ramadan…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Heritage Commission Includes 190 New Antiquities Sites in National Register

The Saudi Heritage Commission approved the registration and documentation of 190 new archaeological sites in the national register of Antiquities. There are now 8,788 such locations in the national register across the country, representing a national legacy that reflects the historical richness of the Kingdom. Asir region has the largest…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Presidency of Two Holy Mosques Activates Emergency Plans amid Heavy Rain on Makkah

The General Presidency of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque activated on Monday emergency plans at the Grand Mosque amid heavy rain on the holy city of Makkah. Over 200 supervisors and 4,000 observers are at the Grand Mosque to weather the conditions and ensure the safety…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Four Saudi Cities Rank High on IMD Smart City Index

Riyadh has maintained its position as the 3rd Arab city in the IMD Smart City Index (SCI) 2023, which saw for the first time the Saudi cities of Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah included in the index, ranking the 4th, 5th and 7th respectively. At the global level, Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah,…

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Asharq Al-Awsat

Makkah’s Grand Mosque Welcomes a Million Worshippers Daily

The Grand Mosque in Makkah has been welcoming nearly a million Umrah pilgrims and worshippers daily since the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan that began 12 days ago. The numbers are expected to rise in the second half of the month. The General Presidency of the Affairs…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Jordanian Crown Prince Arrives in Jeddah

Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II arrived in Jeddah on Sunday. He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Mayor of Mekkah Saleh Al-Turki, chief of police in Makkah Saleh Al-Jabri, and Jordan’s Consul General…

Asharq Al-Awsat

250,000 Pilgrims Arrive in Jeddah ahead of Umrah

Some 250,000 pilgrims from around the world have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah. They arrived at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport where they were provided with all the necessary services that would make their journey as smooth as possible. Director of passports at the facility Suleiman Al-Yusuf…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia Reveals Plan for Crowd Management in Umrah 2023

Umrah security forces in Saudi Arabia have introduced the Interior Ministry's plan for the Umrah season in 2023. The program tackles security, managing and organizing crowds, managing traffic, providing humanitarian services, and empowering squads implementing the plan. “The Umrah security plan for (this) year included managing and organizing crowds and…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Archbishop of Vienna Stresses Importance of Makkah Document in Confronting Hatred

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Vienna, praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to dissociate the Islamic religion from the phenomena of terrorism and isolation, stressing the importance of the Makkah Document in confronting hatred and extremist ideas and spreading tolerance and coexistence. During an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in Riyadh,…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia to Transform Makkah, Madinah into Global Islamic Business Hub

Saudi Arabia seeks to transform Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah in the west of the Kingdom into a center for financial and business activities in the Islamic world. Three economic entities are joining forces to turn the two cities into a center for business activities, and a platform for knowledge…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia Facilitates Visits to Makkah, Madinah for Turkish Nationals

Saudi Arabia has launched a package of facilitation to the visitors of Makkah and Madinah from Türkiye. In a meeting in Istanbul on Tuesday, the Saudi Tourism Authority announced that Turkish nationals wishing to visit Saudi Arabia will now have the option to obtain a tourist visa through the Saudi…

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