Since the beginning of the 2025 Umrah season on June 11, Saudi Arabia has welcomed greater than 1.2 million pilgrims from 109 international locations, marking a big 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 centered pilgrimage expertise than ever earlier than.
Surge in Pilgrim Arrivals Alerts Rising International Curiosity
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 because the season’s begin on Wednesday, June 11 (15 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH), representing a 30% improve in arrivals on Umrah visas in comparison with the identical interval in 2024. This progress spans pilgrims from 109 international locations worldwide, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s profitable efforts to develop and improve its spiritual 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 firms and worldwide journey brokers, making certain well-coordinated companies together with lodging, transportation, and on-the-ground steering. These agreements have been required to be accomplished by Might 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 lengthen into 2026 (1447 AH). This date marked a key milestone within the Kingdom’s preparations to deal with the rising variety of pilgrims effectively. The Ministry utilized the Nusuk platform—a unified digital gateway for pilgrims’ companies—to facilitate visa issuance and appointment bookings starting June 11. The platform presents multi-language help, permitting pilgrims to entry a variety of companies together with allow purposes, appointment scheduling, and academic supplies. Service suppliers and journey firms have been instructed to fulfill the Might 27 deadline for finalizing their contracts, serving to to ensure a easy arrival and keep expertise. This requirement helps the Kingdom’s broader imaginative and prescient of integrating operations, infrastructure, and expertise to enhance the general pilgrim journey.
Over 89 New Initiatives Improve Security, Consolation, and Religious Expertise
For the 2025 Umrah season, Saudi authorities have rolled out a powerful suite of over 89 new initiatives geared toward bettering the protection, comfort, and religious focus of pilgrims. Key highlights embody:
- “Rushd” App: Launched by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, this app presents pilgrims Quran entry, prayer occasions,
Qibla route, VR-guided Umrah tutorials, and an Islamic e-library in a number of languages, enhancing religious engagement by means of expertise. - Sensible Security Bracelets: Designed for youngsters, aged, and visually impaired pilgrims, these bracelets retailer emergency contact data and permit speedy response in case of misery or emergencies.
- Madinah Infrastructure Upgrades: Sixteen initiatives together with AI-driven crowd administration techniques, improved street entry close to spiritual websites, upgraded workers coaching, and sooner emergency response protocols have been applied.
- Prophet’s Mosque Service Facilities: Two multilingual facilities offered help to over 188,000 guests with mobility aids, wristbands, and navigational help.
- Lodge Compliance and Security: The Ministry of Tourism closed 25 accommodations in
Makkah for violations reminiscent of poor upkeep and fireplace dangers, whereas encouraging pilgrims to report issues through the 930 hotline.
These enhancements replicate Saudi Arabia’s dedication to a protected, snug, and enriching Umrah expertise, with a powerful concentrate on integrating superior expertise and human-centered service.
Nusuk Masar Platform: New Laws on Lodging Reserving
Beginning June 10, 2025, the Kingdom has mandated that no Umrah visa will probably be issued with out prior affirmation and documentation of lodge bookings by means of the “Nusuk Masar” platform. This coverage goals to:
- Defend pilgrims’ rights
- Eradicate unauthorized and fraudulent housing practices
- Forestall lodge overbooking
- Preserve excessive lodging requirements
- Streamline the general pilgrimage journey
The Nusuk Masar platform serves because the official digital hub for managing pilgrimage-related companies, permitting pilgrims and repair suppliers to e book and ensure stays in Ministry-approved accommodations, add housing contracts, and handle permits. It additionally presents instructional content material in a number of languages to help pilgrims’ preparations. The Ministry has issued strict advisories to all licensed Umrah firms, licensed institutions, and worldwide brokers, warning that failure to adjust to the brand new housing documentation guidelines may lead to visa rejection, processing delays, or penalties.
