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Published : 07 Feb 2026, 05:43 PM
Saudi Arabia has announced that visas for the 2026 Hajj season will formally begin on Feb 8, marking the first stage in the kingdom’s early operational timeline for pilgrims.
Preparations have been underway for months to ensure accommodation, transport and services are fully ready ahead of arrivals.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah unveiled the schedule as part of detailed planning for Hajj affairs offices worldwide, Gulf News reports.
The Dubai-based daily added that the first groups of pilgrims are expected to arrive from Apr 18.
Preparations for the 2026 season began in June 2025, when the Saudi ministry issued preliminary planning documents to Hajj offices.
The newspaper noted that early access to detailed camp data through the digital Nusk Masar platform has allowed additional time for planning and coordination.
Contracts for accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, transport, and core services at the holy sites were completed in January, the ministry said.
Visa distribution will start this Sunday, with pilgrims’ pre-arrival details submitted in March, it added.
To date, around 750,000 pilgrims have registered, including 30,000 who booked packages directly from their home countries, as per Gulf News.
Nearly 485 camps have been allocated for international pilgrims, while 73 Hajj affairs offices have fulfilled their contractual obligations.
The ministry urged all Hajj affairs offices and service providers to adhere strictly to the timeline, noting that early planning is crucial for a “safe, efficient and dignified” pilgrimage, it added.
