Saudi Arabia grants Visa-Free Umrah access to these countries[
Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that people from some countries like Europe, the UK, and the US can now do Umrah without needing a visa. This makes it easier for pilgrims and fits with Saudi Arabia's goals for 2030. They want to make the pilgrimage easier and simpler for everyone.
This change means more people might go to Umrah because they don't need to worry about getting a visa first. Saudi Arabia is also letting close family members of visa holders come without a visa too, making it even easier for families to go together.
They're using technology, like the Nusk app, to help people plan their pilgrimage better. And if someone wants to go to Umrah but didn't plan it, they can now sort everything out when they arrive.
Even people who are just stopping over in Saudi Arabia on their way somewhere else can now do Umrah if they're traveling with Saudi Airlines. This shows Saudi Arabia wants to help Muslims everywhere have an easier time on their spiritual journeys.
Saudi ministry launches portal for muslims wanting to organize iftars in Grand Mosque
RIYADH: Muslims wanting to organize iftars to be held in the Grand Holy Mosque during Ramadan can apply for a permit through an online government portal, state news agency SPA reported on Sunday.
The General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has launched an e-portal through which people can request permits to provide iftar spreads at the mosque in Makkah during the holy month.
Applications can be submitted by visiting the general presidency's website, choosing iftar banquets and continuing registration procedures to issue the permits.
Ramadan is expected to start within the next week.
President Re-Appoints Sheikh Yasir And Others Ahead Of Ramadan In Last Minute Move MAKKAH: In an un-expected move, President Sheikh Sudais on Wednesday evening issued orders to re-appoint Sheikh Yasir Ad Dawsary as Permanent Imam of Masjid Al Haram.
The President also reappointed Sheikh Ahmad Hudaify and Sheikh Khalid Muhanna back to their position in Masjid An Nabawi. The 3 Imams had previously stepped aside following their expiration of contracts in October 2023.
The Presidency only a few days ago acknowledged that there were 7 permanent Imams in Masjid Al Haram and Masjid An Nabawi each confirming the Imams departure which remained under speculation for a few months.
Inside The Haramain in October 2023 had reported the departure of Imams following their contract expiry.
The President also surprisingly appointed four Guest Imams to lead Taraweeh Prayers in the Two Holy Mosques alongside the regular Imams.
The Imams appointed to lead Taraweeh Prayers in a guest capacity are
Masjid Al Haram:
Sheikh Al-Waleed bin Khalid Al-Shamsan
Sheikh Badr bin Muhammad Al Turki
Masjid An Nabawi:
Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Ahmed Burhaji
Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Qarafi
This development comes days after a Taraweeh Schedule was already issued for the Two Holy Mosques, a new set of Schedules is expected to be released soon
Gates for entry and exit of Umrah pilgrims allocated at Grand Mosque during Ramadan
The Saudi authorities have mobilized all the arrangements and preparations to ensure the Umrah pilgrims and worshipers to perform their rituals at the Grand Mosque in ease and comfort.
MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has allocated a number of gates at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to receive pilgrims, coinciding with the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan, which witnesses the peak annual Umrah season.
The new arrangements were made in coordination with government agencies operating within the Grand Mosque. The holy month of Ramadan is expected to witness huge flow of millions of pilgrims from within the Kingdom and all over the world. The Saudi authorities have mobilized all the arrangements and preparations to ensure the pilgrims and worshipers to perform their rituals in ease and comfort.
The Umrah pilgrims can enter the Grand Mosque through King Abdulaziz Gate, King Fahd Gate, Umrah Gate, and Al-Salam Gate, in addition to 85-93 doors of the ground floor except door number 88, Ajyad Staircase, Ajyad Bridge, Shubaika Stairways of 65-66, King Fahd Stairways of 91-92, and Stairway 84.
The designated exits include side crossings of 78 – 80, stairway 74, regular stairways 71 - 73 - 85 - 88, King Fahd staircase, doors 75 - 77 and 81 – 83 while Al-Shubika staircase is designated for emergency cases. These are in addition to King Abdulaziz Gate, King Fahd Gate, Umrah Gate, and Al-Zubair Gate on the ground floor, Ajyad Bridge, Shubaika Bridge, Othman Bridge, King Fahd Elevators on the first floor, Al-Arqam Stairway elevators, Umrah Gate elevators, Ajyad Stairway elevators, and Marwa Stairway elevators on the second floor and the roof for people with special needs.
Grand Mosque in Makkah fitted with 25,000 new carpets for Ramadan
RIYADH: The Grand Mosque in Makkah has been fitted with 25,000 new carpets for Ramadan, the spokesman for the General Authority for Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said on Monday.
As the holy month is a time of increased worship and spirituality, the Grand Mosque sees an increase in people performing Umrah and attending prayers. Worshipers also flock to the mosque to perform taraweeh prayers every evening.
The spokesman added that 50 ablution sites are available for use inside the mosque and 3,000 toilets in its courtyards. 15,000 Zamzam containers and 150 Zamzam water stations are dotted around the mosque to quench the thirst of worshipers before and after their fasts.
Spokesman Maher bin Mansi Al-Zahrani added that the mosque is washed and disinfected 10 times a day, with 4,000 employees working under the supervision of 400 supervisors over a 24 hour period.
4,000 items of equipment and machines are being used to ensure the health and safety of visitors, and 3,000 liters of quality air-fresheners are used to ensure a pleasant atmosphere.
Can we know the numbers of new pilgrims who land in Makkah every day for umrah.
If the inflow per day number is very large, the restrictions are logical. Preference must be given to fresh pilgrims who enter Haram. It will be very difficult for zaireen to do umrah in day time while fasting. And after sunset we have iftaar, sehri, taraweeh etc. In a limited time slot a pilgrim has to perform umrah.
Pilgrims urged to avoid crowding and preoccupying with photography during tawaf
MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque urged Umrah pilgrims to devote fully to worship while performing tawaf (circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba) at the Grand Mosque.
“Pilgrims have to devote fully to supplication to God in silence without raising their voice, respect the sanctity and status of the Holy Kaaba, and adhere to the etiquette of the Grand Mosque while performing tawaf. There should not be any inappropriate behavior on their part such as crowding or jostling or preoccupation with photography,” the authority instructed while urging the pilgrims to maintain peace and calm while performing tawaf.
The authority stated that the Umrah pilgrims can kiss the Black Stone (Al-Hajar Al-Aswad) only at times when there is no overcrowding if possible, and they can also perform the two rak’ats of voluntary prayer after tawaf at anywhere in the Grand Mosque.
It urged pilgrims and worshipers to avoid actions that may expose others to danger, such as chances of stampeding and overcrowding. “The Umrah performers should be keen to perform the rituals in the correct manner and they can go to the fatwa offices located throughout the Grand Mosque to get clarification for their doubts with regard to any religious matters. The pilgrims shall also to cooperate with the workers who were designated to serve them as well as to ensure their safety at the mataf,” the authority said while stressing that compliance with their directives contributes to the safety and comfort of the pilgrims and worshipers at the Grand Mosque.
MAKKAH — The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites urged the people and residents of Makkah to ease the burden on the guests of God by opting to perform prayers in any mosques within the boundaries of the Haram. “The great reward for performing prayer can be obtained in all mosques in the entire area within the boundaries of the Haram,” the commission said on the occasion of launching its awareness campaign titled “All of Makkah is Haram.”
The commission stressed that the residents of Makkah, as well as visitors and pilgrims shall understand the greatness of the Haram by praying in any of the mosques within the boundaries of the Haram especially since all of its mosques represent a gateway to exploring the Holy Capital.
The commission confirmed that there is great reward for performing prayer at all mosques in the city of Makkah located within the boundaries of the Haram. “The spirituality that the guests of God find in Makkah is not limited to the Grand Mosque only, but extends outside it and expands to include all other mosques, such as the Ayesha Al-Rajhi Mosque, Al-Balad Al-Amin Complex Mosque, Abdul Qadir Al-Nusair Mosque, Al-Muhajireen Mosque, King Abdulaziz Mosque, Princess Fahda Al-Sudairi Mosque and Sheikh Ibn Baz Mosque,” it said.
The campaign aims to make aware of visitors and Umrah pilgrims about the spiritual characteristics of Makkah, the great reward for performance of rituals therein, focus on the religious attractions within the Haram boundary, and make aware of the sanctity of these spots, which make it imperative for those who visit them to sense the spiritual meanings in every spot within the boundaries of the Haram.
It is noteworthy that the borders of the Makkah Haram extend to the north of Makkah up to five kilometers to Al-Tanim, to the west towards Jeddah governorate up to a distance of 18 km, to the south towards the holy site of Arafat from the Grand Mosque up to 20 km, and to 14.5 kilometers east of Makkah at Jaarana. The total area of the Haram’s boundaries is estimated at 560 square kilometers.
The commission stated that the campaign comes from its belief in the role of the individual and society in glorifying the signs of God, and making aware of visitors and pilgrims about the sanctity of these spots. The campaign also aims to make aware of the spiritual implications of every spot within the boundaries of the Haram.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
We apologise but you have been denied access to report posts in this thread. This could be due to excessively reporting posts and not understanding our forum rules. For assistance or information, please use the forum help thread to request more information. Jazakallah