MAKKAH: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program have revealed there was a 22.5 percent increase in Umrah visa arrivals this year between the start of the season on Dhul Hijjah 15 and the end of Muharram.
Total international arrivals for Umrah exceeded 1.27 million pilgrims. The increase has been attributed to leadership support, inter-agency coordination, and the ongoing development of digital and operational services aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
Seventy-five percent of pilgrims arrived by air. Pakistan sent the highest number of pilgrims — 200,000, followed by Indonesia with 170,000, and Iraq with 130,000.
The ministry said it would continue to upgrade the digital accessibility and operational efficiency of the Umrah system to provide a more convenient, high-quality experience for pilgrims from planning to departure.
