The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced new regulations that shorten the validity period of Umrah visas before entry into the Kingdom, in a bid to improve crowd management during the peak pilgrimage season.
According to Al-ArabiyaUmrah visas will now be automatically canceled if the holder does not enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of visa issuance. Previously, the pre-entry validity period was three months. The revised policy is expected to take effect next week. However, the length of stay authorized for pilgrims within the Kingdom remains unchanged at three months, once they arrive.
Ahmed Bajaeifer, advisor to the National Committee for Umrah and Visits, said the move is part of preparations for an expected increase in the number of pilgrims as temperatures in Mecca and Medina drop and travel generally increases. “The aim is to better manage crowds and avoid overcrowding in the two holy cities,” he told Al Arabiya.
The Kingdom has already issued more than 4 million Umrah visas since the new season began in early June, marking what officials describe as a record pace of arrivals compared to previous years. Authorities expect this number to continue to rise significantly in the coming months, prompting measures to ensure smoother crowd control, accommodation capacity and smooth transportation within holy sites.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has implemented a series of administrative and digital reforms in recent years to streamline visa processing, improve pilgrimage services and improve the overall visitor experience in Mecca and Medina.
