Saudi Arabia has significantly extended the validity of the Umrah visa to give its tourism sector a boost. Under the new rules, the visa will be valid for one year (365 days), allowing holders to enter the kingdom multiple times within that period and stay for up to 90 days each time. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported this on Monday.
The report said the new visa system is being introduced as part of achieving the goals of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, which aims to expand the country’s tourism industry alongside religious tourism.
Under the new policy, holders must buy a set package from the government online platform “Nusuk” before each entry into Saudi Arabia, though the package’s validity cannot exceed the visa’s remaining period. Obtaining an Umrah permit through the same platform before travelling is also mandatory.
The visa will not be valid during the Hajj season. Its use will be temporarily suspended from the 1st of the Arabic month of Dhul-Qadah to the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, during which holders cannot use it to enter Saudi Arabia.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report