Saudi Arabia to Host 1,000 Umrah Guests from 16 Nations

Saudi Arabia has approved hosting 1,000 male and female Umrah performers from a number of countries under the Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit, with all costs covered at the King's personal expense.

The program is being rolled out across four phases. In its first phase, 250 performers from 16 Asian countries are being welcomed, including Indonesia, East Timor, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mongolia.

Under this royal initiative, travel, accommodation, services and related costs are covered by the program, meaning hosted guests do not pay the standard package costs themselves. For regular pilgrims, the current Umrah visa fee is SAR 300, with mandatory medical insurance adding roughly SAR 100 to SAR 180, for an official total of about SAR 400 to SAR 480.

Hosted guests typically enter on Umrah or visit visas in line with the current framework. A dedicated Umrah visa allows entry within about 30 days of issuance and a stay of up to 90 days, while the tourist eVisa permitting Umrah is valid for one year with multiple entries and up to 90 days

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah organizes the royal guest programs and issues Umrah permits, time slots and QR codes through the Nusuk platform to enter Masjid al-Haram. Hosted guests are registered and have their permits arranged in coordination with program administrators using the same system. For residents and expats in the Kingdom, the initiative reflects the continued expansion of Umrah services and welcoming facilities for pilgrims from around the world.

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