Mecca

Saudi Arabia will allow foreign companies to invest in Saudi companies that own properties in Mecca and Medina, possibly forshadowing a lift on its ban on foreigners in the holy cities

As Mecca temperatures hit 120 Fahrenheit, over 1.8 million people are taking part in this year’s Hajj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, according to the Riyadh

Saudi weather forecast predicts temperatures to reach 116 on Monday, with authorities urging pilgrims to stay hydrated and out of the sun

'People in the Early Ottoman Period consulted popular sorcerers, alongside the formal belief in the official religion' say the Israeli archeologists

Footage shows pilgrims outside the Grand Mosque who were toppled over by the wind, which also sent crowd barriers sliding across the rain-slicked floor

The incident took place as Muslims around the world marked the Eid al-Adha holiday and gathered in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca for the annual hajj

This hajj will be the biggest since the requirement for women to be accompanied by male guardians was dropped in 2021

Currently, the Saudi kingdom accepts Muslim pilgrims arriving in Mecca from Israel, but they are required to travel through a third country

In recent months, Hamas officials have been signaling their desire to restore ties with the kingdom

Ramadan officially begins on first day of the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, which is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon

Saudi ministry launches Nusuk app to enable pilgrims a smooth journey during the holy month of Ramadan

'The number of pilgrims will return to what it was before the pandemic, without any age limit,' Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah told reporters

'Umrah for the soul of Queen Elizabeth II, we ask God to accept her in heaven and among the righteous'

This is 'a direct violation of the regulations which prohibit entry to Mecca to non-Muslims'

The Jewish community in the UAE has expanded up to over 600 members since the Abraham Accords were signed

'It was irresponsible and damaging to air this report just for the sake of ratings,' says Esawi Frej

'The purpose of this entire endeavor was to showcase the importance of Mecca and the beauty of the religion'

Biden has focused on integrating Israel into the broader Gulf region, particularly with Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia currently requires Muslim pilgrims from Israel to travel through a third country to reach Mecca

Regional cooperation minister wants direct flights to Jeddah for Israeli Muslims making the hajj

One million fully vaccinated Muslims, including 850,000 from abroad, are allowed at this year's hajj

The hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime religious duty for Muslims to travel to one of Islam's holiest sites in Mecca

"Today we received the first group of this year's pilgrims from Indonesia'

The Hajj consists of a series of religious rites that are completed in Islam's holiest city Mecca