Saudi Arabia announces revisions to Umrah visa rules

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced new regulations that shorten the validity period of Umrah visas before entry into the Kingdom, in a move aimed at improving crowd management during the peak pilgrimage season.

According to Al Arabiya, Umrah visas will now be automatically cancelled if the holder does not enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of the visa being issued. Previously, the pre-entry validity period was three months. The revised policy is expected to come into effect next week. However, the duration of stay allowed for pilgrims inside the Kingdom remains unchanged at three months, once they arrive.

Ahmed Bajaeifer, adviser to the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, said the decision is part of preparations for an anticipated rise in the number of pilgrims as temperatures in Mecca and Medina fall and travel typically increases. “The aim is to better manage crowds and prevent overcrowding in the two holy cities,” he told Al Arabiya.

The Kingdom has already issued more than 4 million Umrah visas since the start of the new season in early June, marking what officials describe as a record pace of arrivals compared to previous years. Authorities expect the number to continue rising significantly in the coming months, prompting measures to ensure smoother crowd control, accommodation capacity, and transport flow within the holy sites.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has been implementing a series of administrative and digital reforms in recent years to streamline visa processing, improve pilgrimage services, and enhance the overall experience of visitors to Mecca and Medina.