FINANCIAL NEWS

4.8m pilgrims performed Umrah in Saudi Arabia in 2013 so far

12 Jul 2013

(MENAFN) An estimated 4.8 million Muslim pilgrims have performed Umrah in Saudi Arabia so far this year, Arab News reported citing a Haj official.

Deputy minister of Haj, Hatem Al Qadi, said that 4.5 million of these pilgrims had already left the Kingdom, adding 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.

The extension to the deadline for Umrah visas had been welcomed by tour companies, Al Qadi said, adding that his ministry was currently carrying out inspections to ensure that these firms provided the services promised to pilgrims.

Earlier this year it was reported that Saudi Arabia would issue six million visas for Umrah pilgrimages, according to the Gulf kingdom’s Ministry of Haj, up from 5.5 million last year.

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