Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has unveiled a new set of regulatory amendments to the Umrah visa system, according to Al Arabiya.
The updated rules noted that Umrah visas will be automatically voided 30 days after issuance if the pilgrim has not entered Saudi Arabia within that period.
Therefore, the Umrah visa’s pre-entry validity has been shortened from three months to one month from the date of issuance.
However, the permitted duration of stay in the Kingdom remains unchanged at three months, the source added.
Ahmed Bajaeifer, adviser to the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, told Al Arabiya that the move aligns with the ministry’s preparations for an anticipated surge in the number of Umrah pilgrims after the end of summer and the significant decline in temperatures in Makkah and Madinah.
By taking these measures, which will take effect next week, the ministry seeks to effectively reduce overcrowding and ensure smooth crowd management in the two holy cities.
Since the new Umrah season commenced in early June, international airports have obtained over 4 million Umrah visas.
Over the course of five months since its launch, this season has attracted an unprecedented number of international pilgrims, outperforming previous years.
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