Saudi Arabia in April 2026: the most important developments in society
Saudi Arabia in April 2026 tightened access rules for the annual Hajj pilgrimage and the year-round Umrah pilgrimage. On 18 April the kingdom banned all holders of visit visas from performing the Hajj in 2026, reinforcing its permit-only rule; the stated aim was to regulate access and ensure crowd control. Maintenance work on the Kaaba was reported complete ahead of the season.
Earlier in the month, on 14 April, Saudi Arabia set an exit deadline for Umrah pilgrims who entered through the United Arab Emirates, requiring them to leave the kingdom by a specified date. The rule applies to pilgrims entering via the UAE and is separate from the previously announced Hajj regulations.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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