Saudi Arabia has announced a significant update regarding Umrah pilgrimage procedures, aiming to simplify the process for citizens of select countries.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, individuals holding permanent residency status in the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States can now perform Umrah without the requirement of obtaining a prior visa.
This move is part of the kingdom’s efforts to streamline the Umrah pilgrimage process and enhance services for pilgrims. It aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which prioritize enriching cultural and religious experiences for visitors.
Under the new regulations, eligible Umrah performers from these countries can conveniently plan their pilgrimage using the Nusk app or make arrangements upon arrival. Furthermore, the visa-on-arrival options have been expanded to include first-degree relatives of the visa holder, whether for religious or tourism purposes.
Additionally, transit visa holders traveling via Saudi airlines now have the opportunity to undertake Umrah, further facilitating the spiritual journey for Muslims.
Umrah, also known as the “lesser pilgrimage,” holds deep spiritual significance in Islam. Unlike the Hajj, which has specific dates in the Islamic lunar calendar, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year, allowing Muslims to seek spiritual rewards and draw closer to Allah through this sacred journey.
As preparations for the upcoming Hajj in June progress, Saudi Arabia continues to focus on facilitating pilgrims’ journeys. In the past year, over 13.5 million pilgrims from the Muslim world performed Umrah, with many expressing gratitude to the Saudi authorities for their support during the pilgrimage.
