New Saudi visa lets Umrah pilgrims visit multiple times within a year

New Saudi Visa Lets Umrah Pilgrims Explore Multiple Visits Poinews.com – The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia has unveiled a transformative

New Saudi Visa Lets Umrah Pilgrims Explore Multiple Visits

Poinews.com – The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia has unveiled a transformative travel solution for religious tourists. This new Saudi visa lets Umrah pilgrims return to the holy cities several times within a single calendar year. Valid for 365 days from the date of issuance, the multiple-entry permit allows visitors to perform Umrah for a cumulative stay of no more than 90 days. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), this initiative “aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program’s goals of facilitating arrival, enriching the pilgrim experience and improving service efficiency”.

How the Visa Works for Pilgrims

To qualify for this opportunity, pilgrims must purchase an Umrah service package from an approved provider through Saudi’s Nusuk Umrah platform for each visit. The platform serves as the Kingdom’s digital “one-stop-shop,” providing visa issuance, accommodation, transportation and flight bookings all in one place. The package duration must not exceed the number of days remaining on the visa, and travellers must secure an Umrah permit via Nusuk before arriving in Saudi Arabia.

“The ministry affirmed that the visa enhances flexibility in planning visits and supports the integration of digital and operational services throughout the pilgrim’s journey,” SPA added.

After completing the pilgrimage and departing the country, the visa deactivates automatically. It can be reactivated for the next visit once the pilgrim meets all regulatory requirements. Additionally, the visa remains inactive during the annual Hajj season to avoid conflicts with the major pilgrimage period.

Record Numbers and Global Appeal

The statistics demonstrate strong international interest in this travel option. So far in 2026, Saudi Arabia has welcomed 931,500 pilgrims with Umrah visas, marking a 22.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The top international visitors continue to hail from Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing appeal across Muslim communities worldwide.

Understanding the distinction between Umrah and Hajj helps clarify why this new Saudi visa lets Umrah worshippers benefit from greater flexibility. Unlike Hajj, which is performed only during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah annually, Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage that can be undertaken throughout the year at any time. This is why it is often referred to as a “lesser” or “minor” Hajj.

On the other hand, Hajj remains a once-in-a-lifetime religious obligation for Muslims who are financially and physically able. Its core rituals take about five to six days to complete, while Umrah can typically be completed within a few hours in a day. In 2025, Saudi Arabia hosted more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims for Hajj alone, who arrived from outside of the country through various entry points, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

Including domestic pilgrims, the total for Hajj reached more than 1.6 million people. This new Saudi visa lets Umrah pilgrims experience the spiritual journey with unprecedented convenience, supporting the Kingdom’s broader tourism and religious hospitality objectives under Vision 2030.