Safest ever Hajj: limited attendees and virus measures

This year's downsized hajj may prove to be the safest ever despite the ever-present threat posed by the novel coronavirus. In past years pilgrims have...

Pilgrims fighting over invites from Saudi govt to go to Hajj this year

A Jordanian couple in Saudi Arabia burst into tears of joy to be among the chosen ones for next week's downsized hajj pilgrimage, but...

The limited edition Hajj pilgrimage of 2020 starts July 29: Saudi officials

This year's hajj, which has been scaled back dramatically to include only around 1,000 Muslim pilgrims as Saudi Arabia battles a coronavirus surge, will...

Saudi Arabia opens Hajj registration for foreign residents within the Kingdom

Saudi Arabia on Monday opened hajj registration for foreign residents in the kingdom, saying they will make up 70 percent of the pilgrims after...

First sanctions imposed by UK feature Russians and Saudis

The UK on Monday identified 49 "notorious" individuals and organisations, 25 of them Russian and 20 Saudis, to be sanctioned under its first post-Brexit...

Gulf security: troubled by unreliability of traditional partners

Resolving the tug of war in the Middle East will require a backing away from approaches that treat conflicts as zero-sum games, and engagement...

Iranian boats shot by Saudi Arabia and forced to retreat

Saudi Arabia said Saturday three Iranian boats were "forced to retreat" from its waters after warning shots were fired, according to state media. "At 6.30...

Economy to take a hit as Hajj curtailed for 2020 by Saudi Arabia

Vacant religious sites. Abandoned pilgrim tents. Lifeless hotels. A stunning emptiness - and fears of economic ruin - haunt the usually bustling city of...

Saudi Arabia scales back Hajj amid Muslim disappointment

Muslims expressed disappointment Tuesday at Saudi Arabia's decision to scale back this year's hajj pilgrimage, but many accepted it was necessary as the kingdom...

Limited Hajj to be held this year due to coronavirus: Saudi state media

Saudi Arabia on Monday announced it would hold a "very limited" hajj this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic, with pilgrims already in the...

OIC emergency meeting on Kashmir issue

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir will hold an emergency meeting via videoconference on Monday to discuss the...

Saudi Arabia plans to reopen mosques in Mecca

Saudi Arabia plans to reopen from Sunday mosques in Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, after they were closed for three months due to...