Latest news with #UmrahandZiyarahForum
Leaders
19 hours ago
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Provides GCC Residents with Year-Round Umrah Access
Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can now perform Umrah at any time of the year, according to Gulf News. Saudi Arabia announced that peoples of GCC countries are permitted to perform Umrah and can enter the Kingdom through all land, air, and sea ports. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah noted that pilgrims can obtain Umrah permits from the official Nusuk application. Moreover, residents of GCC countries, not just citizens, can also perform Umrah using multiple types of visas. These visas include the following: Umrah visas available via Transit visas issued in partnership with Saudi Airlines and Flynas ( and Tourist visas that residents can get from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official portal ( Crucially, all pilgrims should obtain a prior permit through the Nusuk app for Umrah and prayer in the Rawdah Al Sharifah in order to access the holy sites. Related Topics: Saudi Arabia Launches New Umrah Season for 1447 Hijri Year Madinah to Host Second Umrah and Ziyarah Forum Tomorrow Saudi Arabia Sets April 13 as Final Umrah Entry Date Short link : Post Views: 7 Related Stories
CairoScene
12-06-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Saudi to Allocate 2.5 Million Airline Seats for Umrah by End of 2025
Routes from Europe, including Paris, Lyon and London, are part of a wider strategy to improve access to Madinah and Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has announced plans to allocate a total of 2.5 million airline seats for Umrah pilgrims by the end of 2025, with over 700,000 seats already utilised during the first quarter of the year. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance air connectivity to the Kingdom's key pilgrimage cities, including Madinah and Jeddah, and to streamline travel for visitors from across the globe. The expansion was unveiled during the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum, held in Madinah from April 14th to the 16th, which brought together 150 exhibitors representing over 100 countries. The event focused on infrastructure, travel technologies, and Madinah's historical significance. So far in 2025, 12 airlines have joined the Kingdom's air connectivity programme, introducing 20 new international routes and adding 1.5 million seats to the network. Participating carriers include ITA Airways, British Airways, Wizz Air, and Eurowings. Several of the new connections focus on Europe. Germany's Stuttgart has been added to the growing list of cities with direct flights to Jeddah, alongside Berlin and Cologne. Transavia, the France-based carrier, will soon operate flights from Paris and Lyon. In the United Kingdom, daily flights from London's Gatwick Airport to Madinah are scheduled to begin in August, contributing 180,000 seats to the Umrah travel system. The expansion reflects Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to facilitate religious tourism and improve access to holy sites as part of Vision 2030, which seeks to increase the number of annual Umrah visitors to 30 million.
Zawya
20-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Almatar enhances pilgrimage experience as official travel partner of UZF 2025
Madinah, Saudi Arabia — Almatar Group for Travel and Tourism, the leading digital travel platform in Saudi Arabia, proudly concluded its role as the Official Travel Partner of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum (UZF) 2025. The event, held recently in Madinah, brought together over 25,000 attendees from more than 70 countries, focusing on transforming the pilgrimage experience through innovation and collaboration. As the Official Travel Partner, Almatar provided a comprehensive suite of travel services tailored to the needs of pilgrims and global industry professionals. These services included flexible flight and hotel bookings, ground transportation arrangements, and exclusive packages—all accessible through Almatar's award-winning digital platform. The goal was to simplify travel logistics, allowing attendees to focus on the spiritual and professional aspects of the forum. Faisal AlRajhi, CEO of Almatar Group, stated: "We are proud to have supported UZF 2025 in its mission to enrich the Umrah and Ziyarah journey through technology and partnership. Almatar remains committed to delivering reliable, secure, and innovative travel solutions that align with the Kingdom's Vision 2030." Organized by Tahaluf, in collaboration with Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP), and the Events Investment Fund, UZF 2025 showcased advancements in tech, mobility, healthcare, aviation, and logistics that contribute to a more efficient pilgrimage experience. The event also created a global platform for stakeholders across the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem to connect, collaborate, and innovate. Almatar's participation at UZF 2025 reaffirmed its position as a leader in smart travel solutions and a key partner in supporting Saudi Arabia's ambitions to elevate the pilgrim experience for millions of visitors annually. For more information, visit
Gulf Business
17-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Umrah travel expansion: 2.5m airline seats targeted for pilgrims
Image credit: Saudi Press Agency /Website More than 700,000 airline seats have been earmarked to support Umrah and visitor traffic through the first quarter of 2025. This was announced by Majid Khan, CEO of Saudi Arabia's Air Connectivity Program, according The program aims to reach 2.5 million seats by the end of 2025, focusing on enhanced global air connectivity to the city. Khan emphasized this goal while speaking at the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum in Madinah. Read- Target markets include Europe, the Gulf, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Indonesia, in line with the National Tourism Strategy. A new air route from Stuttgart to Jeddah will launch this year — the third direct Umrah route from Germany, Khan added. New airlines such as Eurowings have also been introduced, with recent routes from Berlin and Cologne to Jeddah. Transavia, the French airline, will soon launch flights from Paris and Lyon to Jeddah. Additionally, starting in August, a daily flight from London's Gatwick to Madinah will add approximately 180,000 seats. Earlier this year, the program attracted 12 airlines and added 20 new routes to Saudi Arabia, totaling 1.5 million seats. Recent additions include ITA Airways, British Airways, Eurowings, Transavia, and Wizz Air. The three-day forum, which began on April 14, is themed 'Enriching the Experience of Umrah Performers and Visitors.' It was organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program. Held at the King Salman International Convention Center until April 16, the forum hosted more than 150 exhibitors from over 100 countries.
Arab News
16-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Target of 2.5m airline seats for Umrah pilgrims by end 2025
MADINAH: Saudi Arabia's Air Connectivity Program CEO Majid Khan has announced that more than 700,000 seats have been earmarked to support Umrah and visitor traffic through the first quarter of 2025. Speaking at the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum in Madinah, Khan said the goal is to reach 2.5 million seats by the end of 2025, focusing on improved global air connectivity to the city. The three-day forum, which began on April 14, is themed 'Enriching the Experience of Umrah Performers and Visitors.' It was organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program. Khan said the program targets key markets including Europe, the Gulf, Commonwealth of Independent States, and Indonesia, in line with the National Tourism Strategy. A new air route from Stuttgart to Jeddah will launch this year — the third direct Umrah route from Germany, he added. Khan said that new airlines such as Eurowings have also been introduced, alongside recent routes from Berlin and Cologne to Jeddah. French airline Transavia will soon launch flights from Paris and Lyon to Jeddah. And starting from August, a daily flight from London's Gatwick to Madinah will add around 180,000 seats, said Khan. Earlier this year, the program attracted 12 airlines and added 20 new routes to Saudi Arabia, totaling 1.5 million seats. Recent additions include ITA Airways, British Airways, Eurowings, Transavia, and Wizz Air. Held at the King Salman International Convention Center until April 16, the forum hosted more than 150 exhibitors from more than 100 countries. It featured more than 50 workshops and sessions led by 100 speakers, alongside multiple agreements to enhance the Umrah and visitor experience. Workshops focused on accommodation, technology, and artificial intelligence applications, as well as the role of social media, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Hajj and Umrah services. Topics included hospitality, marketing, and Madinah's rich Islamic and historical heritage, the SPA reported. An interactive exhibition highlighted key government initiatives to modernize infrastructure, transport and hospitality in Makkah and Madinah, aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience.
