UAE: Umrah visitors skyrocket during Ramadan due to relaxed restrictions, visa rules

UAE: Umrah visitors skyrocket during Ramadan due to relaxed restrictions, visa rules

UAE: Umrah visitors skyrocket during Ramadan 2022 due to relaxed restrictions, visa rule changes

Saudi Arabia is set to welcome one million Haj pilgrims in July

Published: Wed 11 May 2022, 1:55 PM Last updated: Wed 11 May 2022, 2:44 PM

The number of people visiting Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah pilgrimage during Ramadan skyrocketed due to relaxed Covid-19 restrictions and visa rule changes this year, an operator has said.

“The number of visitors is almost 80 per cent of what the numbers were during pre-pandemic times,” said Mohammed Bin Mahfouz – CEO and co-founder of Umrahme. “And the occupancy rate at the Haram during the last ten days of Ramadan was at 95 per cent. It is a welcome change after two years of this unprecedented pandemic. The season got off to a slow start. However, as restrictions eased and visa rules were changed, the pace really picked up.”

Mahfouz was talking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the ongoing Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

Over six million Umrah permits were issued by the Kingdom in Ramadan alone. In March this year, Saudi Arabia suspended social distancing measures for the two holy mosques - Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s (PBUH) mosque - among other