Mecca

Saudi Arabia

Nearly 270,000 pilgrims without permits stopped from entering Mecca

Authorities in Saudi Arabia are cracking down on illegal journeys to Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage after a larger number of deaths last year due to extreme summer heat. They have thus far denied entry to 269,678 Muslims without Hajj permits.

01/06/2025

Saudi Arabia

Hundreds of Hajj pilgrims reported dead amid lethal heatwave

Temperatures in Saudi Arabia, where the Muslim holy pilgrimage takes place, have reached as high as 51 degrees Celsius.

19/06/2024

Saudi Arabia

Millions of Muslims officially start Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it.

14/06/2024

No Comment

WATCH: Hundreds of thousands of Muslims brave heat at Hajj pilgrimage

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims on Wednesday braved intense heat to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

28/06/2023

Lifestyle

What to know about Hajj, Islam's sacred pilgrimage

Why are millions of Muslims arriving in Saudi Arabia this week? Here's what you need to know about Hajj, Islam's sacred pilgrimage.

27/06/2023

Saudi Arabia

Millions of Muslims heading to Mecca for Hajj pilgrimage

Around two million Muslims are expected to travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage as the religious festival returns to full capacity for the first time since the pandemic.

26/06/2023

Culture news

Here's how Cristiano Ronaldo may be allowed to break Saudi Arabia law

It's been reported that Cristiano Ronaldo and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez will be allowed to share a home in Saudi Arabia despite the Kingdom's laws which forbid unmarried couples from living together

10/01/2023

Tech News

The metaverse is transporting pilgrims to the world’s holiest sites

Worshippers around the world can now visit some of the holiest cities from their home thanks to immersive experiences.

11/08/2022

No Comment

Watch: In Mecca, pilgrims return to Islam's holiest site

A very small number of people circled the Kaaba in Mecca on Sunday after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions that had been in place for months.

04/10/2020

Living

Hajj goes virtual for the first time in history

The Islamic pilgrimage begins today, but amid coronavirus restrictions - could a virtual experience be the future?

29/07/2020

Saudi Arabia

Pilgrims start first day of Hajj under heavy COVID-19 restrictions

It is the first time in nearly a century that people from outside Saudi Arabia will not take part in the five-day pilgrimage.

29/07/2020

Saudi Arabia

Euroviews. Saudi Arabia’s clear response to the coronavirus outbreak is in stark contrast to the West ǀ View

Saudi Arabia’s bold, swift response to COVID-19 is a lesson to western countries, and means that there are - so far - minimal cases and only one death in the country.

27/03/2020

No Comment

Images of empty space surrounding the Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque

To limit coronavirus contagion during religious gatherings, Saudi Arabia emptied Islam's holiest site in Mecca to sterilise it

07/03/2020

Saudi Arabia

Watch: Over 2 million pilgrims gather in Mecca for Hajj

The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and all able-bodied Muslims are required to make the journey at least once in their life.

09/08/2019

Saudi Arabia

Saudi king calls for global action to stop 'escalations' by Iran

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has called for international action to stop "escalations" in Iran following attacks on Gulf oil assets.

31/05/2019

France

French teenager targeted with death threats after tweet about Hajj

French government ministers have tweeted their support for the teenager after some social media users called for him to be decapitated.

15/04/2019

Saudi Arabia

More than 2 million pilgrims take part in Hajj

They've been hurling pebbles at a giant wall in a symbolic stoning of the devil. It's the riskiest stage of the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia where hundreds died in a crush three years ago

22/08/2018

World News

Watch: Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha

Watch: The religious five-day festival is one of the principal holidays in the Muslim calendar.

21/08/2018

Saudi Arabia

In pictures: More than 2 million Muslims gather in Mecca

More than two million Muslims began the annual haj pilgrimage at first light on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca that Islam's faithful face five times each day during their prayers.

20/08/2018

Saudi Arabia

Hajj underway in Mecca

Around two million Muslims are in Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj that is a sacred duty for all followers of Islam to attend if possible

20/08/2018