Saudi Arabia tightens Umrah visa rules

New rule mandates travel within a month of visa issuance

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced a major change to its Umrah visa policy, reducing the period for visa holders to enter the Kingdom from 90 days to 30 days.

Under the revised policy, Umrah pilgrims must travel to Saudi Arabia within 30 days of visa issuance. Any visa will be automatically revoked if the pilgrim fails to enter the Kingdom within 30 days of its issuance.

However, once inside the Kingdom, pilgrims will still be allowed to stay for up to three months.

Ahmed Bajaeifer, adviser to the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, told Al Arabiya that the new measure coincides with preparations for a surge in Umrah pilgrims as cooler weather returns to Makkah and Madinah following the end of 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.