Digital Hajj permit service opens for resident workers

Muslim pilgrims perform the farewell circumambulation or "tawaf", circling seven times around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca on June 18, 2024 at the end of the annual hajj pilgrimage (AFP)
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Updated 16 April 2025
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Digital Hajj permit service opens for resident workers

Riyadh: The General Directorate of Passports has begun accepting electronic applications from resident workers to gain Makkah entry permits during the Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Applications can be submitted through the Ministry of Interior’s platforms — Absher and the Muqeem portal — eliminating the need to visit passport offices.

This is integrated with the unified service for Hajj permits, the Tasreeh platform, the SPA added.

The Absher Individuals platform enables permit issuance for domestic workers, dependents, Premium Residency holders, investors, mothers of citizens, and GCC nationals, after submitting the required documents. 

Through the Muqeem portal, permits are issued to workers in Makkah-based establishments, seasonal work visa holders, and individuals with employment contracts with such establishments during the Hajj season.

Starting April 23, residents within the Kingdom must obtain permits to enter Makkah. Residents without permits will be denied entry and returned to their original location, the Ministry of Interior said. 

Exemptions apply to residents with a work permit for the holy sites issued by the relevant authority, those holding a resident ID issued by Makkah, or those with valid Hajj permits. 

The issuance of Umrah permits through the Nusuk platform will be suspended from April 29 to June 10 for citizens, GCC nationals, residents, and holders of other visa types.

Starting April 29, no one will be allowed to enter or remain in Makkah without a Hajj visa, the ministry added.


Bangladeshi citizens commend Saudi Arabia’s meticulous services for Hajj pilgrims

Updated 3 sec ago
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Bangladeshi citizens commend Saudi Arabia’s meticulous services for Hajj pilgrims

  • About 87,000 Bangladeshis are expected to perform Hajj this year

MAKKAH: Bangladeshi pilgrims performing Hajj have expressed satisfaction with the services Saudi Arabia provides to ensure visitors’ comfort during the Muslim pilgrimage.

Pilgrims praised the organization and high-quality services they enjoyed by participating in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program.

They commended the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance for managing the program, which they said demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Islamic nation and the two holy mosques.

The visitors from Bangladesh represented the University of Dhaka, Jamia Darul Arqam Al-Islamia, and the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

About 87,000 Bangladeshis are expected to perform Hajj this year, having started to arrive in Saudi Arabia in late April, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage every Muslim is obliged to undertake at least once in their life if they are physically and financially able to do so, starts in Makkah on June 4 and will end on June 9.


Saudi Roads Authority launches ‘mobile sites’ service for pilgrims during bus breakdowns on Hijra Road

Updated 51 min 35 sec ago
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Saudi Roads Authority launches ‘mobile sites’ service for pilgrims during bus breakdowns on Hijra Road

RIYADH: The Roads General Authority has launched a “mobile sites” service for pilgrims on the Hijra Road in the event their buses break down.

The service is intended to ensure the highest levels of comfort and safety for pilgrims when traveling between Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The launch was attended by the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser.

This initiative is being implemented on the Hijra Expressway (Makkah-Madinah) and is available around the clock during Hajj season. It can accommodate approximately 40 pilgrims and is equipped with air-conditioning units, rest areas, restrooms, cold beverages, and hospitality meals.

 


Saudi Islamic Affairs Ministry expands digital outreach with daily religious programming during Hajj season

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance is delivering religious programming to serve pilgrims.
Updated 44 min 31 sec ago
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Saudi Islamic Affairs Ministry expands digital outreach with daily religious programming during Hajj season

  • Digital media forms the cornerstone of the ministry’s contemporary outreach strategy, SPA said

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has intensified its digital broadcasting output throughout the current Hajj season, delivering comprehensive religious programming to serve pilgrims and global Muslim audiences via its official YouTube channel.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry’s digital strategy features four daily lectures in three distinct programs: “Barnamaj Dahawi” (Religious Program), “Khayr Al-Ayyam” (Best of Days) and the fourth iteration of “Hajj Talk,” with broadcasts continuing through 13/12/1446 AH (June 9, 2025).

“Religious Program” episodes are broadcast twice daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., while “Best of Days” airs at 4 p.m. The flagship “Hajj Talk” program concludes the daily schedule at 6 p.m. This systematic approach shows the ministry’s commitment to harnessing contemporary digital platforms, aligning with technological progress while amplifying the reach and impact of Islamic messaging. The live streaming format enables real-time engagement with audiences domestic and international audiences.

The daily programming addresses themes relevant to the pilgrimage season, including detailed explanations of Hajj purposes and legal rulings, the spiritual significance of righteous deeds during the days of Dhul-Hijjah, and proper conduct during sacred rituals.

“Hajj Talk” distinguishes itself by focusing on prophetic values, delivered through modern presentation methods while extracting practical guidance from the Prophet Mohammed’s pilgrimage example.

According to SPA, digital media forms the cornerstone of the ministry’s contemporary outreach strategy, supporting its broader mission to promote religious moderation and ensure universal access to authentic Islamic content. It allows pilgrims and viewers worldwide to access religious guidance regardless of location or time constraints.

 


Students from Islamic University of Madinah to guide pilgrims in Hajj animal sacrifice

Updated 5 min 29 sec ago
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Students from Islamic University of Madinah to guide pilgrims in Hajj animal sacrifice

  • Saudi Arabia’s Project for Utilization of Hady and Adahi was established in 1983

MADINAH: Muslim students from the Islamic University of Madinah in the Hejaz Region are participating in the Hajj rituals of Hady by offering guidance on animal sacrifice this weekend.

Some 300 students representing 40 nationalities will take part in the annual sacrifice of animals through Saudi Arabia’s Project for Utilization of Hady and Adahi.

Students will educate and guide pilgrims, ensuring adherence to the Prophet’s Sunnah during the performance of the rituals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The project was established in 1983 to support the Hady rituals and supervise the use of Hajj meat and its distribution to the destitute.

During pilgrimage, which concludes this year on Monday, June 9, pilgrims are required to sacrifice an animal in a ritual called Hady.

Udhiya is a sacrifice carried out by or on behalf of non-pilgrim Muslims on the day of Eid Al-Adha.

In collaboration with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, the student initiative aims to supervise the Hady rituals according to Islamic law, the SPA added.


Saudi Arabia provides more than 91,000 healthcare services to pilgrims in run-up to Hajj

The Medical Services Center in Mina continues its efforts as part of final preparations for the 2025 Hajj season. (MoH)
Updated 02 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia provides more than 91,000 healthcare services to pilgrims in run-up to Hajj

  • 51,938 pilgrims treated at health centers, 22,486 emergency cases handled , and outpatient care provided for 1,069 people
  • Surgeons carry out 16 open-heart surgeries and 145 cardiac catheterizations; 44 cases of heat exhaustion treated

RIYADH: The Saudi healthcare system continues to operate at full capacity during the 2025 Hajj season and has so far provided more than 91,000 health services to pilgrims, official statistics reveal.

As of June 2, health providers had treated 51,938 pilgrims at health centers, handled 22,486 emergency cases, and provided outpatient care for 1,069 people. A total of 4,119 pilgrims were admitted to hospitals, 1,973 of whom required intensive care.

Surgeons successfully carried out 16 open-heart surgeries and 145 cardiac catheterizations, the figures show. In addition, 44 cases of heat exhaustion were treated.

Saudi healthcare authorities said they remain committed to safeguarding the well-being of pilgrims during their spiritual journeys, through the coordinated efforts of healthcare providers to deliver high-quality and efficient medical care.

This aligns with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Health Sector Transformation Program and the Guests of Allah Service Program, as part Saudi Vision 2030, which aim to provide pilgrims with a safe and medically supported environment that meets international health standards, they added.