Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman

Makkah, (IINA) – The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah plans to keep the Umrah season open throughout the year starting from the next Hijri year, Saudi Gazette reported Monday.

“Umrah visas will be granted throughout the year except during the Hajj season which begins mid-Shawwal (the 10th month of the Islamic calendar) and ends on mid-Muharram (first month on the calendar)”, said Abdullah Qadi, deputy chairperson of the National Committee for the Hajj and Umrah.

He said the ministry has stopped issuing new Umrah visas starting Ramadan 15 (June 20). However, Saudi diplomatic missions abroad will continue to grant Umrah visas to those who were already supplied with visa reference numbers.

According to reports, Umrah visas have increased by seven percent over their number last year to reach 6.4 million. “This is still below the ministry’s ambitious plan of receiving about eight million Umrah pilgrims this year”, said Qadi. He attributed the drop in the number of Umrah pilgrims to global economic downturn and the fluctuating exchange rates.

The Saudi government has made elaborate arrangements to cope with the unprecedented rush of pilgrims and to enable them to perform their rituals in ease and comfort, the Information Center at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a press statement. The revenues to be generated by the Umrah season are expected to soar over $53 billion by the year 2020, according to Saad Bin Jameel Al-Qurashi, a former member of the National Hajj and Umrah Committee of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.