RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has officially opened applications for Umrah visas for the new season, marking the start of preparations for the 1448 AH Umrah cycle following the conclusion of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that issuing of Umrah visas will commence from May 31, 2026, and last until March 23, 2027, giving millions of Muslims worldwide a chance to perform their pilgrimage during the entire year.
The ministry said that pilgrims will be allowed to apply for permits and obtain entry to Makkah and perform Umrah from the Nusuk app, the Kingdom’s unified permit application platform.
The ministry revealed a number of dates that will be considered important during this season. The last date for issuing Umrah visa will be on March 9, 2027, falling on the first day of Shawwal, 1448 AH. This means that international pilgrims will be allowed to enter the Kingdom until March 23, 2027, with the condition that all pilgrims leave Saudi Arabia before April 7, 2027.
According to Saudi officials, the digitalization of the pilgrimage services by using the Nusuk platform is aimed at ensuring that all processes are easier and improving the experience of pilgrims.
This follows the ongoing initiatives of the government of Saudi Arabia to improve the service of pilgrims visiting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Hajj 2026: Over 1.7 million pilgrims from 165 countries complete pilgrimage
Meanwhile, more than 1.7 million Muslims performed the Hajj pilgrimage this year, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the authority said a total of 1,707,301 pilgrims completed the annual pilgrimage.
Of these, 1,546,655 pilgrims arrived from outside Saudi Arabia, representing 165 nationalities, while 160,646 domestic pilgrims included Saudi citizens and foreign residents living in the Kingdom.
The data also showed a near-even gender distribution among pilgrims, with 893,396 men and 813,905 women performing Hajj this year.
According to the statistics, the majority of international pilgrims arrived by air, with 1,485,729 traveling via flights. An additional 54,429 arrived by land routes, while 6,497 entered the Kingdom by sea.
The figures mark a slight increase compared to last year, when 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj, according to official data.
The annual pilgrimage is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, drawing Muslims from across the globe to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia.
