Umrah entry visas now valid for one month instead of three from issuance date.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reduced the validity period for Umrah entry visas from three months to one month from issuance date, though the permitted stay duration remains unchanged at three months after arrival.
The new regulations take effect next week (November 1, 2025) amid a record-breaking Umrah season that has already seen over four million visas issued to foreign pilgrims.
Under the updated system, Umrah visas will automatically cancel if pilgrims fail to enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of issuance.
The three-month allowance for staying in the Kingdom after arrival remains unaffected, preserving pilgrims’ flexibility once they enter the country.
Ahmed Bajaeifer, advisor at the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, confirmed the changes to prepare for expected pilgrim increases following summer’s end and cooler temperatures in Mecca and Medina.
The current Umrah season, beginning in early June, has achieved unprecedented numbers with four million foreign pilgrims arriving within just five months. This volume surpasses previous full-season totals, demonstrating growing global demand for Umrah pilgrimage opportunities.
The “Grand Halal Bangkok-2026” exhibition, dedicated to showcasing halal products, services, and innovations, was held at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), reports Dunyo IA.
The event became one of the largest international gatherings in the halal industry in Southeast Asia.
Around 600 companies from more than 25 countries took part in the exhibition. Participants included manufacturers of food products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and Islamic clothing, as well as travel agencies, hotels, retail chains, investors, importers, distributors, halal logistics and certification organizations. According to official data, the exhibition attracted around 15,000 visitors.
Representatives of the Consulate General of Uzbekistan organized the country’s participation through a dedicated national pavilion. Visitors were presented with information materials highlighting Uzbekistan’s tourism potential.
Special interest among guests was generated by Uzbekistan’s historical and cultural attractions, including preserved Buddhist heritage sites in the Surkhandarya region. Visitors received information about ancient Buddhist temples, monastic cells, and Buddha statues dating back to the period of the Kushan Empire, with banners displaying images of these sites also presented at the exhibition.
The exhibition also featured materials about prominent figures and thinkers of the Uzbek people, including Amir Temur, Alisher Navoi, Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, Abu Ali ibn Sina, Abu Rayhan Beruni, and Imam al-Bukhari, as well as video presentations about the new Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent.
Guests of the event also had the opportunity to learn about Uzbek national costumes, culture, and traditions.