Umrah 2025: Over 1.2 million pilgrims from 109 countries have arrived in Saudi Arabia since June | World News

The 1.2 million pilgrims that have arrived since June signify a 30% enhance in Umrah arrivals in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months/ Image: Hajj&UmrahPlanner.com

Since the beginning of the 2025 Umrah season on June 11, Saudi Arabia has welcomed greater than 1.2 million pilgrims from 109 countries, marking a major surge in comparison with final 12 months. Backed by improved digital platforms, strict lodging guidelines, and enhanced security measures, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is delivering a extra seamless, safe, and spiritually targeted pilgrimage expertise than ever earlier than.

Surge in Pilgrim Arrivals Signals Growing Global Interest

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah reported on Thursday that this 12 months’s Umrah season, which started formally on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 (14 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH), has already attracted a considerable inflow of pilgrims. Over 1.2 million guests have arrived since the season’s begin on Wednesday, June 11 (15 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH), representing a 30% enhance in arrivals on Umrah visas in comparison with the identical interval in 2024. This development spans pilgrims from 109 countries worldwide, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s profitable efforts to increase and improve its non secular tourism sector. Visa issuance additionally rose by 27%, reflecting the heightened demand and effectivity in processing purposes. To help this surge, greater than 4,200 contracts have been finalized between Saudi Umrah corporations and worldwide journey brokers, making certain well-coordinated providers together with lodging, transportation, and on-the-ground steerage. These agreements have been required to be accomplished by May 27, 2025 (29 Dhu al-Qadah 1446 AH), forward of the official visa launch date on June 10.

Streamlined Visa Issuance and Administrative Preparations

The Umrah visa issuance cycle for 2025 formally opened on June 10, aligning with the beginning of the brand new Umrah season that may prolong into 2026 (1447 AH). This date marked a key milestone in the (*109*)’s preparations to deal with the rising variety of pilgrims effectively. The Ministry utilized the Nusuk platform—a unified digital gateway for pilgrims’ providers—to facilitate visa issuance and appointment bookings starting June 11. The platform gives multi-language help, permitting pilgrims to entry a variety of providers together with allow purposes, appointment scheduling, and academic supplies. Service suppliers and journey corporations have been instructed to satisfy the May 27 deadline for finalizing their contracts, serving to to ensure a clean arrival and keep expertise. This requirement helps the (*109*)’s broader imaginative and prescient of integrating operations, infrastructure, and know-how to enhance the general pilgrim journey.

Over 89 New Initiatives Enhance Safety, Comfort, and Spiritual Experience

For the 2025 Umrah season, Saudi authorities have rolled out a powerful suite of over 89 new initiatives geared toward enhancing the security, comfort, and non secular focus of pilgrims. Key highlights embody:

These enhancements replicate Saudi Arabia’s dedication to a protected, snug, and enriching Umrah expertise, with a robust deal with integrating superior know-how and human-centered service.

Nusuk Masar Platform: New Regulations on Accommodation Booking

Starting June 10, 2025, the (*109*) has mandated that no Umrah visa will probably be issued with out prior affirmation and documentation of resort bookings by way of the “Nusuk Masar” platform. This coverage goals to:

The Nusuk Masar platform serves because the official digital hub for managing pilgrimage-related providers, permitting pilgrims and repair suppliers to guide and ensure stays in Ministry-approved accommodations, add housing contracts, and handle permits. It additionally gives instructional content material in a number of languages to help pilgrims’ preparations. The Ministry has issued strict advisories to all licensed Umrah corporations, licensed institutions, and worldwide brokers, warning that failure to adjust to the brand new housing documentation guidelines might outcome in visa rejection, processing delays, or penalties.