Saudi Arabia is planning to welcome 15 million Muslims to perform Umrah by 2025.
Umrah is the minor Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, located in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. Umrah can be undertaken at any time of the year and involves a trip to the Great Mosque of Mecca where pilgrims will circle around the Kaaba seven times followed by a walk between the hillocks of Safa and Marwah. The pilgrimage is concluded with the partial or complete shortening of hair.
The Kingdom, which welcomed 60 million domestic and international tourists in the first half of 2024, has revealed plans to encourage more pilgrims to take the minor Umrah pilgrimage over the next year and outperform pre-pandemic levels which was sitting at 8.5 million.
The plan by the Guests of God Service Program will include facilitating procedures for visitor arrivals and offering various travel options, Siasat report. Visa procedures will also be simplified, and capacity will expand to accommodate 30 million people by 2030 and 15 million by next year.
Pilgrims to Masjid Al-Haram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, will also have access to world-class facilities, new infrastructure and other services to enhance the spiritual experience.
Earlier this year, the Kingdom’s leaders also revealed plans to increase female train drivers on the pilgrimage route between Mecca and Medina. Around 38,000 women between 22 and 30 applied for 35 positions that opened in May which Saudi Arabia hopes will advance efforts towards gender equality.
