Umrah Entry Visa Validity Cut to 30 Days Under New Rules
Saudi Arabia has cut the Umrah entry visa validity from three months to 30 days, while requiring verified Nusuk hotel bookings before a visa is issued.
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Last updated: 18 Jun 2026, 12:05 PM (Saudi time)
Saudi Arabia has cut the Umrah entry visa validity from three months to 30 days, while requiring verified Nusuk hotel bookings before a visa is issued.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah suspended 21 Umrah service companies on June 13, 2026, citing poor performance and regulatory violations as it tightens standards across the sector.
Saudi Arabia's official Nusuk pilgrimage app has passed 51 million users across more than 190 countries, consolidating over 130 services for Hajj and Umrah travellers.
New carriers and routes, including a flynas Jeddah-Rabat link, Mukhtara Air in Indonesia and resumed Uzbekistan flights, are expanding air access for Umrah pilgrims in the 2026 season.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has set the key dates for the 1448 AH Umrah season and reminded pilgrims that visa holders must now enter the Kingdom within a shorter window after issuance.
Saudi statistics show more than 11.2 million pilgrims performed Umrah in the fourth quarter of 2025, split almost evenly between visitors from abroad and worshippers already inside the Kingdom.
Umrah pilgrims surpass 11.2 million in Q4 2025 Saudi Gazette
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