Saudi Arabia resumes Umrah visas as Hajj 2025 draws to a close
New Umrah season to extend into early 2026
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has resumed issuing Umrah visas from today, 10 June, following the successful conclusion of the Hajj 2025 pilgrimage.
It comes just one day after pilgrims completed the final ritual of Hajj – the tawaf (farewell circling) of the Kaaba in Makkah. With this move, international pilgrims can now begin planning their journey for the new Umrah season.
According to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, visa issuance officially begins on 10 June (14 Dhul Hijjah 1446), and the first wave of foreign pilgrims is expected to arrive as early as 11 June.
Umrah companies and global agents were earlier directed to finalise their service agreements by 27 May. The upcoming Umrah cycle will span into 2026, offering year-round access to Makkah and Madinah, unlike Hajj which is limited to specific dates.
Who was banned?
In the lead-up to Hajj 2025, Saudi Arabia had temporarily halted the issuance of Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries. These included India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco. The restriction aimed to regulate travel to Makkah during the busy pilgrimage period and remained in place until mid-June.
Additionally, hospitality facilities in Makkah were instructed from 29 April not to host visitors without a valid Hajj permit or a work/residence visa, as part of the Kingdom’s logistical preparations for the large-scale pilgrimage.
What is Umrah?
Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, which, unlike Hajj, can be performed at any time of the year. Though not obligatory, it holds great spiritual significance and draws millions of Muslims annually. The pilgrimage includes rituals such as Tawaf (circling the Kaaba) and Sa’i (walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah). Separate from Hajj, Umrah requires a distinct visa and involves fewer formalities.
In contrast, the Hajj is mandatory once in a lifetime for able Muslims and is confined to specific dates on the Islamic lunar calendar. This year, Hajj rituals took place between 4 and 9 June (8–13 Zil-Hajj).
How many participated in Hajj 2025?
According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj in 2025 (1446 AH). Of these, 1,506,576 came from outside the Kingdom, while 166,654 were domestic pilgrims, comprising both Saudi citizens and expatriates.
Breaking it down by gender, 877,841 male and 795,389 female pilgrims completed the journey.
Earlier in Ramadan (March 2025), Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mosque authority reported 122.2 million worshippers in Makkah and Madinah, with over 16.5 million performing Umrah during the holy month alone.