Good news for those looking to perform Umrah – Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can now perform Umrah rituals through easy options including transit visa and tourist visa.
This is of course, apart from the Umrah visa. The transit visa will allow passengers to stay in the country for 96 hours.
The ministry stated that this is aimed at facilitating the GCC residents with comfortable ways to perform the rituals of Umrah.
It’s important to note that visiting Al-Rawdah Al-Sharif at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah requires advance booking through the Nusuk application.
Last year in August 2024, Saudi Arabia expanded Umrah eligibility to include holders of all types of visas — whether for tourism or personal visits — from around the world.
Additionally, visitors to the Kingdom who hold valid visas from the United States, the United Kingdom, or Schengen countries are permitted to perform Umrah during their stay.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has positioned these initiatives as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to improve access to religious tourism while ensuring high-quality services for pilgrims.