ISLAMABAD: Between August 31 and November 24, Pakistan topped the list of countries whose citizens went to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, according to date released by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday.
Around 319,494 Pakistanis went for Umrah in this time period, followed by 306,461 Indonesians and 195,345 Indians. Others in the list of top Umrah performers are Malaysia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, and Jordan, in that order.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said on Twitter on Sunday it has issued more than 1.3 million Umrah visas during the current Islamic calendar year.
“Pakistan topped the list with the most nationalized Umrah visas with 319.49 thousand visas, followed by Indonesia with 306.46 thousand visas, and from Arab countries, Algeria was the most prominent with 28.79 thousand visas,” according to the statement. “835.87 thousand Umrah pilgrims left during the period, while 297.5 thousand pilgrims are currently in the Holy Land.”
Pakistan tops list of Umrah pilgrims — Ministry of Hajj
Pakistan tops list of Umrah pilgrims — Ministry of Hajj
- Around 319,494 Pakistanis went for Umrah between August 31 and November 24
- Others in the list of top Umrah performers are Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq and Jordan
Pakistan remittances seen surpassing $40 billion in FY26 as Saudi Arabia leads November inflows
- The country’s November remittances rose 9.4 percent year-on-year to $3.2 billion, official data show
- Economic experts say rupee stability and higher use of formal channels are driving the upward trend
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s workers’ remittances are expected to exceed the $40 billion mark in the current fiscal year, economic experts said Tuesday, after the country recorded an inflow of $3.2 billion in November, with Saudi Arabia once again emerging as the biggest contributor.
Remittances are a key pillar of Pakistan’s external finances, providing hard currency that supports household consumption, helps narrow the current-account gap and bolsters foreign-exchange reserves. The steady pipeline from Gulf economies, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has remained crucial for Pakistan’s balance of payments.
A government statement said monthly remittances in November stood at $3.2 billion, reflecting a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase.
“The growth in remittances means the full-year figure is expected to cross the $40 billion target in fiscal year 2026,” Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Limited, told Arab News over the phone.
“There are a couple of factors behind the rise in remittances,” she said. “One of them is the stability of the rupee. In addition, the country is receiving more inflows through formal channels.”
Tawfik said the trend was positive for the current account and expected inflows to remain strong in the second half of the fiscal year, noting that both Muslim festivals of Eid fall in that period, when overseas Pakistanis traditionally send additional money home for family expenses and celebrations.
The official statement said cumulative remittances reached $16.1 billion during July–November, up 9.3 percent from $14.8 billion in the same period last year.
It added that November inflows were mainly sourced from Saudi Arabia ($753 million), the United Arab Emirates ($675 million), the United Kingdom ($481.1 million) and the United States ($277.1 million).
“UAE remittances have regained momentum in recent months, with their share at 21 percent in November 2025 from a low of 18 percent in FY24,” said Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Limited. “Dubai in particular has seen a steady pick-up, reflecting improved inflows from Pakistani expatriates owing to some relaxation in emigration policies.”
