Saudi health ministry records 357 new coronavirus cases
Updated 26 October 2020
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi health ministry announced Monday 17 new deaths and 357 new cases of the novel coronavirus.
The new virus cases bring the total number to 345,232, including 8,228 active cases undergoing treatment. Among them are 784 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.
The ministry also announced that 17 new deaths have been reported, putting the tally of fatalities at 5,313.
It also said 361 cases have recovered from the disease, raising the total number of recoveries to 331,691.
On the other hand, 52,321 new laboratory tests were conducted, in the last 24-hour, across Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations
Company failed to provide accommodation for a number of Umrah pilgrims, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs, ministry says
Updated 29 December 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday announced the suspension of an Umrah company and its overseas agent for failing to provide accommodation services for pilgrims in line with approved contractual programs.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the company’s failure constitutes a clear violation of regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.
It noted that a number of pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without secured accommodation, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs.
This prompted immediate regulatory action against the company and its overseas agent under the established legal frameworks, the ministry said.
Pilgrims circumambulate the Holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah in this photo taken earlier this month. (SPA)
"The measures are intended to safeguard the rights of affected pilgrims, prevent a recurrence of such violations, and ensure the continued enhancement of service quality," it added.
Last June, the ministry suspended seven Umrah companies due to deficiencies in providing transport services to pilgrims.
In an earlier report quoting the Hajj Ministry and the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, SPA said more than 1.7 million Muslims from all over the world arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during Jumada Al Akhira alone.
Also referred to as Jumada Al Thani, Jumada Al Akhira is the sixth month of the Islamic calendar. For Hijri year 1447, this sixth month ended on December 20, 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.
