RIYADH – Saudi Arabia has announced a major liberalisation of its pilgrimage regulations, confirming that visitors and residents holding any type of visa will now be permitted to perform Umrah during their stay in the Kingdom. This move is set to dramatically broaden access for Muslims globally.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that individuals holding “personal and family visit visas, electronic tourist visas, transit visas, work visas, and other types of visas” are included in this expanded access.
Streamlining Access Under Vision 2030
The Ministry framed the decision as a crucial component of the Kingdom’s efforts to streamline procedures for Umrah performers and expand access to services, in direct support of the ambitious goals set out by Saudi Vision 2030. This national roadmap aims to enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims and visitors.
“This step reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to facilitating the arrival of Muslims from around the world to perform their rituals with ease and tranquillity,” the statement read, highlighting the humanitarian and religious motivation behind the policy change.
The reform is particularly significant for Muslim-majority nations like Pakistan, which receives one of the highest annual Haj quotas from Saudi Arabia. By allowing existing visa holders to perform Umrah, the Kingdom is leveraging its economic and diplomatic ties to ease religious duties, transforming short-term visits for business or tourism into opportunities for pilgrimage. The decision is expected to significantly boost religious tourism and connectivity across the Muslim world.
