Jeddah: The Ministry of Haj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia announced a modification to the expiry date of Umrah visas for pilgrims arriving from outside the Kingdom for the current season of 1445 AH.
In a statement released through X, the ministry disclosed that the Umrah visa will now expire on the 15th of Dhul-Qa’dah, corresponding to May 23.
This advancing of the visa expiry date from Dhul Qadah 29 to Dhu al-Qadah 15 aims to streamline the smooth movement of pilgrims arriving to perform the Haj rituals.
The statement was made in response to an inquiry made on the ministry’s beneficiary care X account regarding the last date for pilgrims to leave before Haj.
The ministry clarified that the Umrah visa remains valid for a period of three months from issuance, instead of the previously approved validity from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia.
It is essential to note that the Umrah visa is exclusively for performing the rituals of Umrah and does not extend to the Haj pilgrimage.
Regarding the issuance of Haj 2024 visas, the ministry revealed that it commenced on March 1 and concluded on April 29, with pilgrims scheduled to begin arriving in the Kingdom on May 9, 2024.
This year, the Haj pilgrimage to Makkah is expected to begin on June 14, being a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially capable, requiring them to perform it at least once in their lifetime.
The adjustment to the Umrah visa expiry date by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah facilitates the pilgrimage journey for millions of Muslims worldwide.