Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced a significant change to its Umrah visa policy, reducing the entry period for visa holders from 90 days to 30 days.
Under the updated policy, Umrah pilgrims are now required to enter the Kingdom within 30 days of the visa being issued. If they fail to do so, the visa will be automatically cancelled.
However, once pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia, they may still stay for up to three months.
Ahmed Bajaeifer, an adviser to the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, explained to Al Arabiya that the adjustment comes as part of preparations for an expected rise in the number of Umrah pilgrims, with cooler weather returning to Makkah and Madinah after the summer.
He said the goal is to improve crowd management and prevent congestion in the two holy cities.
Al Arabiya reported that over four million Umrah visas have been issued to international pilgrims since the new Umrah season began in early June.
Officials noted that this year’s season has already set a record for international participation, reaching unprecedented numbers within just five months of its launch.
Source: Express Tribune