Saudi Arabia Reduces Umrah Visa Entry Validity to One Month
The Kingdom has shortened the entry window for Umrah visas while maintaining the three-month stay period for pilgrims already in the country.
Saudi Arabia has announced a significant change to its Umrah visa regulations, cutting the validity period for entry from three months to just one month from the date of issuance.
The new rule means that pilgrims must enter the Kingdom within 30 days of receiving their visa, or it will be automatically cancelled. However, once pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia, they can still stay for up to three months, which remains unchanged.
This decision comes as the current Umrah season experiences record-breaking numbers. Since the season began in early June, more than four million visas have been issued to foreign pilgrims. This marks an unprecedented milestone, with the figure achieved in just five months compared to previous years.
According to sources from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the updated regulations will take effect starting next week. The ministry has introduced these amendments as part of broader preparations for the expected increase in pilgrim arrivals.
Ahmed Bajaeifer, an advisor at the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, explained the reasoning behind the change. He noted that the decision aims to manage the anticipated surge in visitors, especially as summer ends and temperatures in Makkah and Madinah become more comfortable. The goal is to prevent overcrowding in the two holy cities during peak periods.
The ministry emphasized that this adjustment will help streamline pilgrim flow and ensure better management of services in the holy sites.
