RIYADH: The number of Umrah visas issued this year has reached 6,238,255, of which 5,703,775 pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom, according to data provided by the Hajj Ministry.
There are 452,180 pilgrims still in the Kingdom, with 318,423 in Makkah and 133,757 in Madinah, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Most pilgrims — 5,090,542 — came to the Kingdom by air, while 541,798 entered by land and 71,435 arrived by sea.
The largest number of pilgrims are from Pakistan (1,314,235) followed by Indonesia (849,864), India (559,122), Egypt (342,562), Turkey (269,739) and Yemen (260,754).
The weekly data also included the number of Saudi staff within Umrah companies and institutions. They are 10,587 Saudis including 8,769 males and 1,818 females.
Recently, the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mohammed Salih Bentin urged 700 companies offering services to pilgrims to take their performance levels to new heights. Companies, he added, could take the lead in organizing Hajj and Umrah in the future, and help develop the sector’s infrastructure and plan construction projects.
Saudi Arabia issues more than 6.2 million Umrah visas
Saudi Arabia issues more than 6.2 million Umrah visas
- Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mohammed Salih Bentin urged 700 companies offering services to pilgrims to take their performance levels to new heights
Saudi Scouts Association unveils environmental protection program
- Public service and education program to encourage responsible behavior among young people, says SASA leader
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Scouts Association has launched a new environmental protection program at King Salman Wildlife Park in Banban, north of Riyadh, marking a renewed commitment to conservation and youth engagement in sustainability efforts.
The SASA initiative, unveiled in the presence of role players from various scouting sectors, brought together partners from government agencies and private-sector organizations, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The program reflects growing collaboration between civic groups and national institutions to advance environmental protection goals across the Kingdom.
Abdulrahman Al-Mudaris, the SASA’s secretary-general, said the initiative underscores the scouts’ active role in supporting national strategies to preserve natural resources and promote sustainable development.
He said environmental scouting was a public service activity and educational approach designed to instill environmental awareness and encourage responsible behavior among young people.
The launch event featured the sowing of seeds and planting of seedlings throughout the park to support vegetation growth and enhance biodiversity, the SPA reported.
Founded in 1961, the SASA is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education.
Over the decades, Saudi scouts have played a visible role in community service, disaster response, and public event organization, including supporting pilgrim services during Hajj and Umrah seasons.
