Nearly 6 million Umrah visas issued this season: IINA Report

Jeddah (IINA) – A total of 5,949,212 visas were issued by the Saudi authorities for those who wish to perform Umrah from all over the world since the beginning of the Umrah season on 1st of Safar until its end on 27th of Ramadan.
Of the total number of visas issued, 5,676,588 Umrah pilgrims came to Saudi Arabia to perform their Umrah rituals. The number of those who left the Kingdom after performing Umrah stood at 5,203,876, according to statistics of the Ministry of Hajj obtained by the International Islamic News Agency (IINA).
The statistics, covering an eight-year period from 1429 to1436H, showed an increase in the number of Umrah visas issued by the Saudi authorities, which amounted to 39,693,739 visas during this period, of which 37,696,284 came to perform the rituals, and 37,074,388 left the Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, while 472,712 Umrah pilgrims, who came during the current season, have yet to leave the Kingdom.
Despite the fact that the final statistics of the current Umrah season will not be issued before the end of Ramadan, the Umrah season of 1435H remained on top of the list in terms of the number of Umrah pilgrims who came from outside the Kingdom, as it stood at 6,023,840, while 1429H remained at the bottom of the list with 3,194,019 Umrah pilgrims.
The holy sites and the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah are currently witnessing massive expansion projects being carried out by the Saudi government. In this context, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Salman launched last Saturday five mega-projects within the Third Saudi Expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, which will increase its capacity to nearly two million worshipers.
In a related development, Saudi Hajj Minister Dr Bandar Hajjar said in earlier statements that "the reconstruction projects of the Two Holy Mosques and caring for the guests of Allah were not affected by the economic conditions experienced by Saudi Arabia as a result of the lower oil prices and declining global economic growth – stressing that “they are given top priority by Saudi leadership”.
AB/IINA

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