MAKKAH: More than 15.2 million people performed Umrah during the first quarter of the ongoing Umrah season in Saudi Arabia, according to data released by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.
The authority stated that the number of people who undertook Umrah within the first quarter of the season stood at 15,233,767.
Of the total number, 9.5 million are domestic pilgrims. Males constitute 56.4% of the total number of Umrah performers, whereas females constitute 40.6%.
Saudi nationals accounted for 28.9% of the total number of Umrah performers, with the remaining pilgrims arriving from outside the Kingdom.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has established the deadline for issuance of Umrah visas for the current season up to March 9, 2027. Pilgrims with visas will be able to enter Saudi Arabia up to March 23, 2027.
In view of the huge influx of pilgrims into the country, Saudi authorities are working hard to enhance facilities related to Umrah arrangements in the Kingdom.
The latest figures underscore the scale of Umrah activity in the Kingdom and the continued importance of the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia’s religious tourism sector.
Private Hajj 2027 Payments Begin — What You Need to Know
Meanwhile, payments for private Hajj 2027 have started, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Sunday asked pilgrims planning to perform Hajj to use only the official Pak Hajj App and Hajj Portal for bookings and payments.
According to the ministry, all financial transactions under the private Hajj scheme must be completed through the Hajj Portal. Pilgrims will be able to select an authorised Hajj organiser and choose their preferred Hajj package through the portal developed by the National Information Technology Board.
Private pilgrims can also pay their Hajj dues from home through the Hajj Portal, the ministry spokesperson said.
The ministry has made it clear that no Hajj organiser has been authorised to collect payments directly from pilgrims. Those who pay unauthorised agents or individuals will be responsible for any financial loss, the spokesperson warned.
The ministry said the collection of payments through the Pak Hajj App and Hajj Portal would be carried out under its supervision to ensure transparency. Pilgrims have been advised to use only the ministry’s authorised digital systems and avoid paying cash or issuing cheques to any authorised or unauthorised company.
The ministry has also warned pilgrims against fraud and urged those already registered under the private Hajj scheme to select an authorised company and Hajj package through the Pak Hajj Portal. New registrations for the Private Hajj Scheme 2027 are also under way through the Hajj Portal and Pak Hajj App. The quota for the Private Hajj Scheme for 2027 has been set at 71,696 pilgrims.
