In March, the number of flights between the UAE and Saudi Arabia reached 383 weekly flights compared to 338 weekly flights in February
The annual pilgrimage to the holiest city in Islam takes place during the Islamic calendar month of Dhu Al Hijja which is expected to fall in June next year
The Saudi Pro League’s various clubs have gone on an international acquisition spree and signed a string of big names that have brought Europe’s top footballers to the kingdom
Nationals of these countries can apply for a Saudi visitor visa ahead of their journey via the official e-visa portal
The kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj has launched an electronic application process to facilitate travel for the upcoming Umrah season
People visiting the kingdom with an Umrah visa can now visit any city in Saudi Arabia, and any visitor to the country will be allowed to perform Umrah at any time
The decision coincides with the start of the Umrah season for the current year
The visit visa for Umrah will be issued now within 24 hours and applications can be submitted from outside Saudi Arabia through the app
The new directive will come into effect on 1am, February 9, 2022
The directive is effective October 10 onwards
Foreign pilgrims who are fully vaccinated will be permitted to perform Umrah starting from August 9
The kingdom reopened the Grand Mosque in Makkah to domestic Umrah pilgrims on Sunday, July 25
Visitors are subject to strict Covid-19 precautionary protocols
The kingdom’s minister of Hajj and Umrah received the Covid-19 vaccine in Jeddah
The kingdom resumed Umrah in a phased manner in October
The number of pilgrims allowed to perform Umrah has increased to 15,000 per day
The kingdom resumed the Umrah pilgrimage on October 4 in phases
The registration of Umrah pilgrims for the first 10 days has been completed
During the first phase, only 12 groups of pilgrims would be allowed to perform Umrah within 24 hours
The first phase will begin on October 4, with international visitors expected to be allowed from November
In the first phase, Saudi citizens and expatriates residing in the kingdom will be allowed to undertake the Umrah
Those wishing to perform Umrah will reportedly require a Covid-19 negative test
The project will see the addition of “tens of thousands” of hotel and residential units in Makkah in later phases
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments will extend the validity of expired licences until December 2020
The move comes as the kingdom launches PR campaign with influencers on social media