Umrah News Roundup: Season Reopens, Hajj Wraps Up, and the Haramain Railway Hits New Records

This article is correct as of 2026-06-25.

Correct as of June 19, 2026. The new Umrah season is officially underway. Saudi Arabia reopened international Umrah visa applications on May 31, 2026, and as of this week, more than 190,000 visas have already been issued to pilgrims from outside the Kingdom. If you’re planning a DIY Umrah in the coming months, here’s what changed while Hajj 2026 was wrapping up.

Umrah season 1448 AH is now open, what that actually means

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah set 14 Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH (May 31, 2026) as the official restart date for the new Umrah season. International pilgrims can now apply for visas through the Nusuk Umrah portal or certified external agents. Entry into Makkah itself reopened from Dhul Hijjah 15 (June 1, 2026), but the Ministry confirmed that international Umrah permits through the Nusuk app began issuing from June 11, after Hajj operations fully concluded and the Haramain underwent their post-Hajj cleaning and maintenance cycle.

The practical takeaway: if you applied for an Umrah visa in the first week of June, your Nusuk permit should be available now. If you haven’t applied yet, visas are being processed, the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported on June 3 that over 190,000 had been issued in the first three days alone.

The final date for Umrah visa issuance this season is Shawwal 1, 1448 AH (March 9, 2027), with last entry by Shawwal 15 (March 23, 2027) and final departure by Shawwal 30 (April 7, 2027). That gives you roughly nine months of open season, the longest window is August through February, before Ramadan crowds begin.

Nusuk is still mandatory, don’t skip it

One rule hasn’t changed: Nusuk remains compulsory for every pilgrim, regardless of visa type. Even if you enter Saudi Arabia on a tourist visa, you must book your Umrah permit through the official Nusuk app before performing Umrah inside the Haram. The platform is now fully integrated with accommodation and transport booking, you’ll need to confirm your hotel and transport before your visa application is complete.

This is the part DIY travellers sometimes miss. The Nusuk app (available on iOS and Android) handles both your Umrah slot booking and your permit to enter the mataf area in Makkah. Without that permit, you won’t get past the checkpoints at the Haram gates. The app also covers Rawdah visits in Madinah, book those slots early, they fill up fast, especially Thursday evening through Saturday.

Haramain Railway carried 800,000+ passengers during Hajj

The Haramain High-Speed Railway has been running at full tilt. The Saudi Press Agency reported in mid-May that the train had transported over 670,000 passengers since launching its 1447 AH Hajj operational plan, and by late May that number had climbed past 800,000. Total capacity for the Hajj season was expanded to more than 2.21 million seats across 5,308 trips, with over 142 daily trips during peak periods.

For Umrah travellers, here’s what matters: the train runs between Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and King Abdulaziz International Airport. The Makkah-to-Madinah trip takes about two hours. At 300 kilometres per hour, it’s the fastest way to move between the two holy cities, beating any bus or private driver by hours. Tickets are bookable through the HHR app or at station counters. Book at least two days ahead during peak Umrah months (Ramadan, December school holidays, and the month before Hajj).

If you’re flying into Jeddah and heading straight to Madinah, the Haramain train station is inside the airport terminal, no taxi needed. Follow the signs to the train station after baggage claim. The fare from Jeddah Airport to Madinah is around SAR 250 for economy class and SAR 400 for business (correct as of June 2026).

Hajj 2026 by the numbers

Hajj 2026 (1447 AH) took place around May 25-30, with official day of Arafat on May 27. Saudi authorities reported nearly 500,000 pilgrims arriving through the Kingdom’s airports. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah processed millions of Nusuk permit bookings and coordinated transport, accommodation, and crowd management across Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.

What does this mean for Umrah? The post-Hajj transition is now complete. All temporary Hajj infrastructure in Mina and Arafat has been dismantled. The Grand Mosque in Makkah is back to normal capacity and scheduling. The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah is operating regular visiting hours. Hotels near the Haram that were block-booked for Hajj delegations are releasing rooms back to the open market, expect Makkah hotel availability to improve through late June and July.

What to watch in the coming weeks

Two things to keep an eye on if you’re travelling soon:

Summer heat. June through August in Makkah means daytime temperatures above 45°C (113°F). If you’re doing tawaf between noon and 4pm, bring an umbrella, a refillable water bottle, and know where the nearest Zamzam station is inside the mataf area. The new shaded sections on the upper floors of the Haram expansion help, but the open courtyard is still fully exposed.

Visa processing times. The 190,000+ figure from early June suggests the system is moving fast, but that was the initial rush. As demand levels out, standard processing is 3-5 business days through the Nusuk portal. If you’re applying through a licensed agent in your home country, add another 2-3 days for the agent to submit. The Umrah visa is valid for 30 days from issuance, not from entry, so don’t apply months before you plan to travel.

Notes

[1] Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, “Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Announces the Umrah Season Calendar for 1448 AH,” haj.gov.sa, published March 2026. https://haj.gov.sa/en/Media-Center/Ministry-News/2026/Ministry-of-Hajj-and-Umrah-Announces-the-Umrah-Season-Calendar-for-1448-AH

[2] Asharq Al-Awsat, “Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Says Over 190,000 Umrah Visas Issued to Start Season,” english.aawsat.com, published June 3, 2026. https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5160081-saudi-ministry-hajj-and-umrah-says-over-190000-umrah-visas-issued-start-season

[3] Arab News, “Haramain high-speed rail boosts Hajj capacity to 2.2m seats,” arabnews.com, published May 2026. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2642231/saudi-arabia

[4] Saudi Press Agency, “Haramain High-Speed Railway Transports More Than 670,000 Passengers,” spa.gov.sa, published May 16, 2026. https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2587390

[5] Arab News, “Saudi Arabia opens visa applications for new Umrah season,” arabnews.com, published May 31, 2026. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645656/saudi-arabia

[6] NDTV Profit / Travel + Leisure Asia, “Saudi Arabia Rolls Out Full Schedule For Umrah 2026-2027,” travelandleisureasia.com, published May 2026. https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/sea/news/umrah-2026-2027-saudi-arabia-resumes-visa-services-announces-key-dates

Related UmrahDIY guides: If you haven’t applied yet, check the documents required before applying for an Umrah visa. Once your visa is approved, follow the Nusuk app setup guide to get your permit sorted.