GCC Residents Get Year-Round Permission for Umrah

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that GCC residents can now perform Umrah year-round, with enhanced services facilitating easy access to the holy sites in Mecca and Madinah.

The ministry outlined several streamlined options for obtaining Umrah visas:

• Pilgrims can book an Umrah package through the Nusuk platform, the Kingdom’s official digital gateway for pilgrimage services.
• Alternatively, they can apply for a visa through accredited visa centers.
• Travelers transiting via Saudia Airlines or Flynas can obtain a transit visa, allowing them to perform Umrah during their stopovers.
• Visitors may also apply for a tourism visa via the electronic visa platform, which permits Umrah and access to holy sites across Saudi Arabia.

The ministry stressed that all visitors must secure an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before arriving at the Grand Mosque to ensure an organized and safe pilgrimage experience.