Saudi Arabia issues over 1.3 mln visas for Umrah pilgrims

The number of visas issued for pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah has reached 1,318,605 according to official statistics released on Friday by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for this Hijri year.

Up till now, over one million pilgrims have entered the kingdom to perform Umrah, while the number of pilgrims already in the kingdom has reached 362,225, of which 242,638 are already in Mecca.

Over 677,000 pilgrims have already performed Umrah to date and left the kingdom.

According to official statistics, there are 7,941 Saudi employees working in companies and institutions relating to Umrah, 1,239 of which are women.

This comes in accordance with the weekly Umrah Index which was launched by the Hajj ministry at the start of the current Hijri year which is entering its third month. The index presents the number of Umrah visas issues, the total number of pilgrims entering the kingdom by land, air or sea, and the current number of pilgrims in Mecca and Madinah in addition to the number of pilgrims who have left the kingdom after performing their religious pilgrimage.

Pakistani pilgrims were the higest number in the kingdom thus far, reaching over 359,000 pilgrims, followed by Indonesia at 204,176 pilgrims and India with 178,893 pilgrims.

The weekly index aims to track the movement of visas, arrivals and departures to improve the quality of services provided to pilgrims and visitors. This comes in line with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan which aims to receive 30 million pilgrims and providing them with high quality services.