News claiming that photography and videography have been banned in the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina ahead of the 2026 Hajj season are untrue. This was reported by The Islamic Information on December 8.
According to the publication, Saudi Arabian authorities, including the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, have not issued any statements about the implementation of new restrictions on photography in these two holy sites. Current regulations remain unchanged.
Reports suggest that rumors of a "complete ban" originated on social media and were spread by some media outlets based on unverified sources. These reports alleged that authorities would prohibit even mobile phone photography during Hajj, but this information has not received official confirmation.
The Saudi government has emphasized that such false reports frequently appear online ahead of large-scale pilgrimages. The Islamic Information reiterated the current guidelines.
The guidelines emphasize maintaining respect in the mosques, avoiding actions that disturb prayers, and respecting the personal space of other pilgrims. These rules apply during Hajj, Umrah, and Ramadan.
The 2026 Hajj pilgrimage is expected to begin around May 27 and continue until June 4-5. Pilgrims from Uzbekistan will need to obtain medical certification via the Nusuk digital platform in order to perform this religious duty.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
Users of Меҳмон are not allowed to comment this publication.
