Authorities in Saudi Arabia say that 4.8m Muslim pilgrims have performed Umrah in the kingdom so far this year.
Deputy minister of Haj, Hatem Al-Qadi, told English language newspaper Arab News that 4.5m of these pilgrims had already left the kingdom.
Al-Qadi also said that a recent extension to the deadline in applications to perform Umrah to July 19 would not cause overcrowding in sites around the holy city of Makkah.
“We are taking into account the huge expansion project of the tawaf area at the Grand Mosque, which is currently under way,” he told the paper. “Umrah companies still have time to obtain visas, provided pilgrims in the country leave before new ones arrive.”
Al-Qadi added that the extension to the deadline for Umrah visas had been welcomed by tour companies, and that his ministry was currently carrying out inspections to ensure that these firms provided the services promised to pilgrims.
“Of special importance in this regard is that they should provide accommodation, adequate food and adequate transportation to and from the holy places,” he said. “Sometimes the minister of Haj also participates in the inspections to ensure that everything is alright.”
Earlier this year it was reported that Saudi Arabia would issue 6m visas for umrah pilgrimages, according to the Gulf kingdom’s Ministry of Haj, up from 5.5m last year.
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