MAKKAH: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program have revealed there was a 22.5 percent increase in Umrah visa arrivals this year between the start of the season on Dhul Hijjah 15 and the end of Muharram.
Total international arrivals for Umrah exceeded 1.27 million pilgrims. The increase has been attributed to leadership support, inter-agency coordination, and the ongoing development of digital and operational services aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
Seventy-five percent of pilgrims arrived by air. Pakistan sent the highest number of pilgrims — 200,000, followed by Indonesia with 170,000, and Iraq with 130,000.
The ministry said it would continue to upgrade the digital accessibility and operational efficiency of the Umrah system to provide a more convenient, high-quality experience for pilgrims from planning to departure.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa, allowing pilgrims to visit the kingdom several times with a maximum cumulative stay of up to 90 days.
The visa is valid for 365 days from the date of issuance, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday.
Under the new visa system, pilgrims must buy a service package from an approved provider on Nusuk for each entry into the kingdom. The duration of the package must not exceed the number of days remaining on the visa. Nusuk is the kingdom's digital platform that allows international pilgrims to apply for Umrah visas and book services online without intermediaries.
Pilgrims must also obtain an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before travelling, SPA said.
The visa will be deactivated each time a visitor leaves Saudi Arabia and reactivated for subsequent visits once the relevant regulatory requirements have been met. It will not be valid during the annual Hajj season, said the news agency.
“This step aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Programme's goals of facilitating arrival, enriching the pilgrim experience and improving service efficiency,” said the ministry.
Saudi Arabia is seeking to welcome more Muslims to the kingdom in line with its Vision 2030, which aims to boost the country’s role as a religious and cultural hub while diversifying its economy.
Last July, it announced that Gulf citizens and residents can perform Umrah all year round, marking an easing of restrictions.
Umrah is a non-mandatory Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah that can be performed at any time of the year, unlike Hajj, which takes place during a specific period in the calendar. Although shorter and less complex than Hajj, Umrah holds great spiritual significance for Muslims around the world.
Saudi app Hudhud guides Umrah pilgrims through Makkah’s sacred and historic landscape
MAKKAH: Digital innovation is rapidly reshaping Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah services sector, and Saudi application Hudhud is another front-runner.
With the influx of Umrah pilgrims all year round, navigating Makkah’s complex web of alleys and traffic can be difficult for those unfamiliar with the city.
This is where Hudhud steps in to help and guide pilgrims and visitors to Makkah’s religious, historic and tourist sites through detailed digital maps and advanced navigation system.
Hudhud, which runs in multiple languages, draws on modern mapping technology to deliver accurate location data and plot the optimal route to the desired destination.
Saad Al-Joudi, a specialist in Hajj and Umrah affairs, said that homegrown mapping and navigation apps were now a core element of the pilgrim services ecosystem.
“Hudhud represents a model for Saudi technology that can add real value to the Umrah experience,” he said. “Its role is not limited to directing users to their destination. It also helps them discover places they may not have known about — historic sites, landmarks of religious significance, or services they need along the way.”
Al-Joudi said that the Kingdom’s digital transformation is now visible in the everyday experience of pilgrims, and that reliable national mapping elevates service quality across the board as travelers increasingly plan and navigate entirely by smartphone.
Such apps, he added, advance Vision 2030 goals of improving the pilgrim experience and putting modern technology to optimal use.
Easier access to religious and historic sites enriches the pilgrims’ visit culturally as much as logistically, giving them a structured way into Makkah’s history and Islamic heritage.
Samir Al-Maghrabi, who is visiting Makkah for the first time, said that the app helped him to reach a series of religious and historic sites without vigorous online searches or stopping strangers and asking them for directions.
“I wanted to visit several landmarks connected to Makkah’s history, but I did not know where they were or the best way to get to them,” he said. “Using the app saved me a lot of time. The maps were clear and easy to use, which made getting around far more comfortable and let me spend my time on worship and visiting historical places.”
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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