Saudi Arabia eyes 10m pilgrims in new Umrah season

 

Saudi Arabia is making preparations to welcome approximately 10 million international Muslims for the upcoming Umrah season, according to a report on Al Arabiya TV. The country aims to accommodate these pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, starting from the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Al Muharram, which is set to begin later this month.

 

Around 300 companies offering Umrah services have applied for and obtained the necessary licenses. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that electronic visas for Umrah have begun to be issued following the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Applicants can submit their visa requests through the Nusuk platform (https://www.nusuk.sa/ar/about).

 

Pilgrims holding Umrah visas will start arriving in Saudi Arabia from the first day of Al Muharram. The Nusuk platform streamlines procedures, including arranging accommodations for Muslims from various parts of the world who intend to perform Umrah. Many Muslims, who are unable to participate in the Hajj pilgrimage due to physical or financial constraints, travel to Saudi Arabia specifically for Umrah.

 

In recent months, the country has introduced several facilities to facilitate the visit of international Muslims for Umrah. Muslims holding personal, visit, and tourist visas are allowed to perform Umrah and visit Al Rawda Al Sharifa, the location of Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) tomb at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, by scheduling an appointment through the Nusuk app. The Saudi authorities have extended the Umrah visa duration from 30 to 90 days, and visa holders are now permitted to enter the country through all land, air, and sea ports and depart from any airport.

 

Additionally, Saudi Arabia has announced that expatriates residing in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries can apply for a tourist visa, regardless of their profession, to perform Umrah. Likewise, individuals holding Schengen, US, and UK visas can book appointments for Umrah and visiting Al Rawda Al Sharifa through the Nusuk app before their arrival in Saudi Arabia.