Saudi Arabia expects Umrah pilgrims to reach 8.5 million

The number of pilgrims seeking Umrah is expected to rise by 1.5 million year-on-year (YoY) to 8.5 million for this Hijri year, Asharq Al Awsat newspaper reported, citing Abdulaziz Wazzan, Undersecretary of Hajj and Umrah Ministry.

The rise in the number of pilgrims will be driven by an increase in the number of Umrah firms, he said.

The ministry has set regulations to categorize these companies based on the quality of services, by the end of each year.

Wazzan added that the ministry is working to expand the services provided to pilgrims on its website, including adding tours to historical and heritage sites in Makkah and Maddinah as a first stage, to be followed by tours across the Kingdom.