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.
Turkish art historian and researcher Şeyda Sağlam published an article on the popular website “61 Saat” about the potential of Uzbekistan in the sphere of pilgrimage tourism, in which she shared her impressions of a trip through the historical cities of the country, reports Dunyo IA.
In the article “The Polish of Samarkand, The Prayer of Bukhara: The Spiritual Route of the Journey to Uzbekistan”, author noted that the journey through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva became for her not just a visit to cities, but an acquaintance with the historical and spiritual centers of the region.
According to the researcher, Samarkand impresses with its architectural heritage, Registan Square, Amir Temur Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda complex and the heritage of the scholar Imam Maturidi. She emphasized that the city reflects the grandeur of ancient civilizations and the role of science in the history of Central Asia.
Şeyda Sağlam paid special attention to Bukhara, noting its spiritual atmosphere and significance as one of the centers of Islamic culture. Among the places that made an impression on her, she named the Kalyan Minaret, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the Bahauddin Naqshband complex and the Ark Citadel.
“Samarkand is a city of outward grandeur, while Bukhara speaks to the human spirit”, the researcher noted.
Article became another publication in the Turkish media aimed at promoting the tourism potential of Uzbekistan, in particular, its opportunities in the sphere of cultural and pilgrimage tourism.