Riyadh Air is adding direct flights from Riyadh to two Pakistani cities this week, and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed it has run more than 32,000 service inspections since the 1448H Umrah season began [1]. For DIY travellers, both moves change the maths on when to fly and where to spend your time in Makkah [2].
What happened
Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air is launching daily flights from Riyadh to Islamabad on August 14, 2026, with a three-times-weekly service to Lahore starting in mid-August [4]. Aviation Week lists Islamabad and Lahore among the most significant new routes this month, part of a wider push that has already seen the airline add Mumbai, Dhaka, and other destinations through early August [4].
Separately, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has carried out more than 32,000 inspections since the start of the 1448H Umrah season, which opened on 15 Dhul-Hijjah 1447H. The checks cover accommodation, Umrah companies, and other service providers, and are aimed at keeping service quality up for pilgrims [1].
Why the new flights matter for DIY planners
More direct capacity into Saudi Arabia from Pakistan tends to ease pressure on the busier regional hubs, and it gives travellers one more airline to compare against Saudia, flynas, and the Gulf carriers. If you currently route through the Gulf to reach Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, a daily non-stop Riyadh to Islamabad option becomes one less connection to juggle [4].
Lahore gets a lighter schedule at three flights a week, so if you are departing from Lahore you will still need to plan around specific days. Prices are not fixed in this announcement either, so treat the new routes as extra scheduling options, not guaranteed savings. Check your own dates across carriers before you lock anything in [4].
32,000 inspections: what it actually means for you
The inspection figure means the Ministry is watching accommodation and service providers more closely this season [1]. That matters if you book independently instead of through a package. If a hotel or transport provider underperforms, the complaint channels exist, and the Ministry’s own oversight is active [1].
You can verify any Saudi Umrah company or establishment before you book through the Ministry’s electronic services, which is worth doing when you are paying a provider directly rather than through an agent [2]. A quick check takes minutes and can save you from paying a provider that is not properly licensed [2].
Time your tawaf using the crowd schedule
The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques has published crowd density times for the Grand Mosque, and they are worth saving before you go. Light crowds run from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM and again from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with moderate crowds from 5:00 AM to 8:00 AM and peak crowds from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM [3].
For most pilgrims, the 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM light window is the practical one, especially if you are travelling with children or older family members who cannot handle the packed evening rush [3]. The overnight window is calmer still, but it suits younger travellers and those who prefer worshipping late rather than early [3].
What DIY planners should do right now
- If you fly from Pakistan or through Islamabad or Lahore, check Riyadh Air’s schedule for the new daily and three-times-weekly options against your current booking [4].
- Save the crowd density times and plan tawaf for the light 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM window where you can [3].
- Before paying any independent provider, verify the company through the Ministry’s electronic Umrah services [2].
The bigger picture
Riyadh Air is expanding quickly, adding destinations through August as it builds toward a much larger network that is meant to pass one hundred international cities by the end of the decade [4]. New capacity into and out of Saudi Arabia is good news for pilgrims in the long term, because competition on routes tends to bring fares down and open up more connecting options [4].
This article is correct as of 2026-08-13.
Notes
- [1] Ministry of Hajj and Umrah completes 32,000+ service checks, Ajel News, accessed 13 August 2026. https://english.ajel.sa/saudi-arabia/5ktuff08c
- [2] Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announces the Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH, Saudi Press Agency, 17 May 2026. https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2587540
- [3] General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, crowd density times for the Grand Mosque, @theholymosques, accessed 13 August 2026. https://x.com/theholymosques/status/2087191509313687703
- [4] 50 New Routes Launching in August 2026, Aviation Week. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/50-new-routes-launching-august-2026
