Saudi Arabia launches e-service for umrah pilgrims to get visas in 24 hours
June 3,2022
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has disclosed that it has launched an electronic service for the issuance of visas to umrah pilgrims within 24 hours.
With the launch, Muslims from countries outside Saudi Arabia planning to attend umrah can now individually apply for the visa through a designated web service.
Umrah is the non-mandatory lesser pilgrimage made by Muslims to Mecca, which may be performed at any time of the year
In a statement issued on Thursday, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, minister of hajj and umrah in Saudi Arabia, said the umrah visa validity has also been extended from one month to three months.
Tawfiq added that “the visit visa for Umrah will be issued now within 24 hours”.
The minister said one million people are expected to perform hajj in 2022, including 85 percent of foreign pilgrims.
