It’s part of the country’s goal to improve the pilgrimage experience for devotees and ease access to the religious landmark
religious tourism
Latest in religious tourism
Holy mosques
Saudi reports 81mn worshipers visit Prophet’s Holy Mosque from beginning of Muharram
More than 8 million people offered prayers in the honorable Rawdah and the old campus, Saudi authorities said
Hajj and Umrah pilgrims
Pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah next year can apply online from today, Saudi Ministry says
Saudi Arabia has revamped its pilgrimage-related technology following Covid-19
Hajj and Umrah pilgrims
Saudi’s Motawif online portal for Hajj registrations gains significant interest from global pilgrims
To date, there have been more than 100,000 registrations from 56 countries on the Motawif portal, which also issues visas to Saudi Arabia electronically
Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
Saudi Arabia reopens to foreign vaccinated pilgrims, increases Umrah capacity
Capacity will be increased to 2 million pilgrims from 60,000 pilgrims per month as of August 9
Hajj and Umrah
Saudi offers incentives for Hajj and Umrah sectors to ease coronavirus impact
Measures include exempting accommodation facilities based in Makkah and Madinah from annual fees
Coronavirus Pandemic
In pictures: Hajj pilgrims arrive in Makkah
This year’s hajj will be held under strict hygiene protocols, with access limited to pilgrims under 65 years old and without any chronic illnesses.
IHG
Hotel giant seeks Saudi talent for Voco expansion plan
InterContinental Hotels Group on recruitment drives as it prepares to open first Voco hotels in Saudi Arabia
CBRE
Makkah tourism success set to impact real estate demand
CBRE says short-term residential demand in Makkah will continue to be focused on smaller size units
Hajj
Room with a view: Makkah hotels offer VIP hajj experience
Room rates at Makkah’s finest hotels are more than $1,000 per night in the high season
Hajj
Two million Muslim hajj pilgrims scale Mount Arafat
Tens of thousands of stewards marshall hajj pilgrims in a bid to prevent any repetition of previous years’ deadly stampedes
Dubai International Airport
Revealed: how Emirates plans to add flights help Hajj pilgrims
Emirates set to expand services to Jeddah and Madinah with an additional 46 flights to help facilitate travel for Hajj pilgrims
Hajj
Saudi Arabia sees over 6.1m Umrah pilgrims so far, up 7%
Pakistanis, Indonesians, Indians and Egyptian lead number of pilgrims performing Umrah in Makkah
Alex Kyriakidis
Marriott inks deal to return Sheraton brand to Saudi holy city
Set to open in 2023, Sheraton Taiba Hotel, Madinah will comprise 268 rooms
Arne Sorenson
Marriott CEO says success isn’t guaranteed, but optimistic on balance in KSA
Marriott is pursuing a $2 billion growth plan in the GCC’s largest economy