The Umrah season in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the period during which pilgrims are allowed to perform the Umrah rituals, which consist of circumambulating al-Kaaba al-Musharrafa , walking between Safa and Marwa , after entering the state of Ihram from one of the designated Miqat (entry points for Ihram ) before performing Hajj or Umrah. The Umrah season for pilgrims arriving from abroad and the issuance of their visas begins annually after the Hajj season, specifically on the thirteenth of...
Yes, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offers comprehensive coverage through the 'Health Insurance for Umrah Pilgrims from Outside the Kingdom' program, which was launched in 2019 as part of the Pilgrim Experience Program , one of the initiatives of Saudi Vision 2030 . This program compensates pilgrims in case of any issues or disasters during their travel or stay, providing treatment and quick solutions for emergencies, ensuring an improved pilgrimage experience, and facilitating the perfo...
Muzdalifah Holy Site is the third station for pilgrims among the holy sites in Makkah al-Mukarramah . It is where pilgrims spend the night preceding the night of the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah after arriving there from the holy site of Arafat . Spending the night in Muzdalifah is considered one of the obligatory duties of Hajj . Location of Muzdalifah Holy Site Muzdalifah site situated between the two holy sites of Arafat and Mina , covering a total area of approximately 9.6 km², of which 6.8 km...
The Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition is an annual event aimed at enhancing the quality of services provided to pilgrims. It brings together Hajj and Umrah service providers, stakeholders, and officials from within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and abroad to discuss developments and practices in serving the pilgrims, in alignment with the objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030 . The 2022 Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition The inaugural edition, titled 'Transi...
Al-Mashaaer al-Mugaddassah Metro Line has a passenger capacity of 360,000 pilgrims across more than two thousand trips over seven days. The metro, which launched its first trip in 2010, connects the holy sites starting from the Arafat Holy Site to the Jamarat Bridge, passing through Muzdalifah Holy Site. Its railway spans twenty km and operates with seventeen trains, all of which are controlled by automated systems. Each train consists of twelve carriages, totaling 204 carriages, each accommoda...
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and one of the Islamic rituals that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia organizes every year, hosting millions of Muslims from different parts of the world to perform the Hajj rituals in Makkah al-Mukarramah and the holy sites. The performance of the Hajj pilgrimage involves specific acts of worship during the period between the eighth and thirteenth of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah each year, in the Grand Mosque and the holy sites. For its validity, it is required to com...
Yes, through several programs, including the Pilgrim's Gift Program, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance in cooperation with the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. This gift includes a package containing an audio tape of exceptional Quran recitations and four books that explain the pillars of Islam, faith, and excellence, as well as education, values, noble ethics, and the principles of Sharia and creed. The Cu...
Nusuk Platform is a Saudi government platform affiliated with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah under the Pilgrim Experience Program. It allows travelers from all over the world to organize and plan their visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Umrah and visitation, starting with applying for an electronic visa, booking hotels and flights, and using services and facilities for travelers to Makkah al-Mukarramah and al-Madinah al-Munawwarah for Hajj, Umrah, or visitation. Launching Nusuk platform N...
Makkah Route Initiative is an organizational and service initiative aimed at facilitating the journey of foreign pilgrims, starting from the procedures in their home countries, through their arrival, reception, and settlement in their accommodations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and concluding with their return. It was launched by the Ministry of Interior in 2017 as part of the Pilgrim Experience Program, a Saudi Vision 2030 Realization Program. The initiative has benefitted 617,756 pilgrims ...
Mawaqit al-Ihram are designated locations where individuals intending to perform Hajj or Umrah in Makkah al-Mukarramah are required to pass through in order to enter the state of Ihram . Ihram constitutes one of the four pillars of Hajj, along with standing at Arafat and performing Tawaf al-Ifadah and al-Sai . These Mawaqit were established as a mark of reverence for the Grand Mosque, aiming to steer clear of prohibited behaviors and speech, while engaging in virtuous acts and upholding righteo...
The Holy Site of Mina is the first of the Holy Sites that pilgrims visit in Makkah al-Mukarramah. In Mina, pilgrims spend the eighth day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, as well as the last Tashreeq days of the Hajj. It contains the three Jamarat (pillars): al-jamrah al-sughra (the smallest jamrah), al-jamrah al-wusta (the middle jamrah), and Jamrat al-Aqabah (the largest jamrah). Al-Khayf Mosque is also located in it, and it is the closest Holy Site to the Grand Mosque. Furthermore, it is consider...
The Hajj and Umrah Magazine is the first Saudi government magazine to be issued during the reign of the founder King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, over seventy years. The first issue of the magazine was published in 1947 under the name 'Hajj Magazine,' before changing its name in 1970 to 'al-Tadamun al-Islami Magazine,' only to revert in 1993 to its original name. The development of Hajj and Umrah Magazine The magazine witnessed development in 2002 when its name was cha...